Just a question for the experienced

[mattmotor]

My 1979 240d keeps on moving, slowly.

I have been neglecting a bad left rear wheel bearing and today is the day I actually checked it and wow, I think one more mile and I would have had some pretty bad trouble.

My question is, given the expense of bearing replacement, what would be the collective opinion of getting a used control arm with hub and bearings ready to go and swapping it out. I put the car in the air in the garage and my axle comes loose from the hub and it looks like there isn't too much to it.

What should I look for in a bearing/hub assembly in a control arm without an axle. How much play is too much? How smooth should it feel?

I can get a complete assembly locally for about a 100 bucks.

I appreciate your input.

Love,
Mattmotor

[boneheaddoctor]

Its worth a shot...............$100 isn't outrageous.

[mattmotor]

I thought that was pretty fair.

Should the bearings be tight and smooth when the assembly is off of the car?

I know on some cars, the axle actually tensions the bearings, but I don't think it does on these.

[J. R. B.]

I ordered a used one last November for the 83 and was surprised when it came complete with bearing assembly. All I needed was the arm itself as my old one was rusted. The bearing on the new used one was smooth so I installed the whole arm assembly as it was. I say go for it for a hundred bucks.

[leathermang]

If you put the new one on.... replace your brake pads on both sides...
brake work is always done ' per axle'... either both front or both rear...

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by leathermang

If you put the new one on.... replace your brake pads on both sides...
brake work is always done ' per axle'... either both front or both rear...

Good advise for sure.
I guess you could take brakes and rotor from old one and install on new one, but brakes aren't that much.