84 300 SD Front End Noise - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

meltedpanda · #1 07-29-2005, 09:02 PM

Last few days have heard what I thought was a tire rumble coming out of the front. The tires have a few miles on them so I figure that is the cause. However I jacked it up tonight and spun the wheel and it was not as smooth as the other. Can bearings make this sound? Kinda like when your tire hums over the edge strips on the road. There does not seem to be any play. Only 155K on the clock and repacked per schedule
Any other thoughts? Anyone have a bearing go bad and what noise did it make.
And I was just thinking everything was going smoothly and contemplating trip over the mountains in a few days
Thanks in advance

t walgamuth · #2 07-29-2005, 09:08 PM

a bad bearing could rumble. or tick or sqeak. i have had all those i think through the years.

tom w

Brian Carlton · #3 07-29-2005, 09:36 PM

A bad bearing can cause the high pitched whine that you are referring to.

However, it cannot rumble, unless it has trememdous clearance and is starting to come apart. If you don't feel any excessive axial play in the bearing, the rumble is not likely to be emanating from it. But, if the rollers are damaged, the first indication is a high pitched whine similar to what you described when you hit the warning track.

If it has a rough feel to it when you rotate the rotor, it might be wise to take it out and look at it.

meltedpanda · #4 07-30-2005, 05:41 PM

it defintely is not a whine, in fact I have to close the windows turn off the air and radio and listen. Really sounds like a tire that has a bad tread. When I jack it up there is no play (out / in ) in the wheel, but when I turn it is does sound "rough" Could my calipers make this noise, as in "stuck"
I better pull the wheel, except I am not really sure what to look for, any ideas
Thanks for the information so far.

meltedpanda · #5 07-30-2005, 05:42 PM

[QUOTE=Brian Carlton] if the rollers are damaged, QUOTE]

Brian
What is a roller?

meltedpanda · #6 07-31-2005, 12:59 PM

bump, bump

Brian Carlton · #7 07-31-2005, 02:14 PM

[QUOTE=meltedpanda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

if the rollers are damaged, QUOTE]

Brian
What is a roller?

The bearing is a tapered roller bearing. It has about 20 small "rollers" that make up the bearing. Each roller is about 1/4" diameter and about 3/4" long. The weight of the vehicle rides on these rollers and they are subject to damage to to heavy impact and/or lack of lubrication.

Remove the rotor from the spindle and remove the bearing from the hub. Take a look at the rollers and attempt to determine if they are damaged in any way. Any signs of spalling or scoring on the rollers and you need to replace it. Also, you can spin it in you hand. Any signs of roughness in your hand and you need to replace it. It will become fairly obvious once you have the bearing completely removed.

The spindle has two tapered roller bearings, an inner bearing and an outer bearing. The outer bearing comes right out when you remove the retaining nut. You must carefully pull the grease seal on the inside of the hub to remove the inner bearing. DO NOT lever against the bearing when you do this, otherwise it will be history. When you remove the grease seal, you need to have a new replacement to install as it is typically destroyed in the process.

meltedpanda · #8 08-02-2005, 11:55 AM

thanks Brian

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