Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-09-2020, 01:41 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Posts: 2,512
Wheel "helper" piece stuck

I swear I am getting incompetent in my old age or maybe I should say more incompetent. I'm in the middle of doing a B service on my E300D which I have done probably fifteen times before with no issues. I can't believe the problems I'm having this time. I can't start the car after changing the fuel filters. I had lots of problems resetting the maintenance due indicator. My pressure bleeder for bleeding the brakes isn't working and now this one.

I was removing all the tires to check tread depth, brake pads and rotors. All went well until I hit the last tire. I generally hate to bother with that helper pin that screws in to help guide the tire into place. But in this last tire I just couldn't get the tire lined up right, so I used it and the darn thing will not now unscrew. I only screwed it in hand tight, but not even pliers will get it to come out. What are some simple options I've got?

Thanks.

Attached Thumbnails
Wheel "helper" piece stuck-img_3492.jpg  
__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-09-2020, 01:47 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Alhambra California
Posts: 3,129
Pipe wrench or vise grips?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-09-2020, 01:51 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,941
+1 And a spritz of penetrating oil.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-09-2020, 01:58 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Posts: 2,512
Thanks for the quick replies guys. No go with pliers, vise grips and penetrant. The pliers and vise grips are just scraping away at the piece as you might be able to see from the photo. I'll keep trying, but I'm almost thinking that I've got to straighten opposite sides so I can get a wrench on it, but I sure hate to go that far.
__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-09-2020, 02:14 PM
Diesel911's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Long Beach,CA
Posts: 51,042
I copied the pic to my computer and blew it up to get a better look. My fist impression of it is that it is made of aluminum. But, if not soft steel. The good news is if needed either can at least be drilled if is snapped off.

Not sure from looking at the picture but I think the Rotor can come off with the piece still there. If you could get the Rotor off you could heat what ever hub is it is screwed into.

Pipe wrenches come in all kinds of lengths. At some point one of them is going to be long enough to have enough leverage to turn and or shear it off. One longer then 12 inches. Harbor Freight sells them with both Iron and Aluminum handles on them.

Another option could be to file a flat area on each side and use a large Cresent/adjustable wrench.
__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-09-2020, 02:29 PM
bsmuwk's Avatar
124.051
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IL / WI
Posts: 1,013
you wedged it from not inserting the tool deep enough, it's not sitting in the bore properly and is visually sitting crooked.

as it is pictured now, tap the piece with a hammer lightly to the RIGHT while using some vice grips to loosen. there is NO other reason for it to be stuck the way it is unless you've crossthreaded it on insertion.
__________________
Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-09-2020, 02:55 PM
Hogweed's Avatar
Watching SB LII every day
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: in the back of beyond a.k.a. Pa.
Posts: 3,383
just putting this out there because not everybody knows this but if your vise grips aren't holding the part they aren't tight enough.

the secret is to get them as tight as you can and clamp them on.....then take another set of vise grips on the turning knob (or some have a Allen key slot in the knob), and turn it so it get as tight as you can.....
i've actually broken a set because i went too far but that is how to get them so they don't turn on the part.



Quote:
Originally Posted by sokoloff View Post
Thanks for the quick replies guys. No go with pliers, vise grips and penetrant. The pliers and vise grips are just scraping away at the piece as you might be able to see from the photo. I'll keep trying, but I'm almost thinking that I've got to straighten opposite sides so I can get a wrench on it, but I sure hate to go that far.
__________________
0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-09-2020, 04:26 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Greater Metropolitan Beaverdam VA
Posts: 2,877
Put the wheel and the rest of the lug bolts in and tighten lightly. That positions the wheel to allow the stud to easily unscrew. I use those things all the time and never have had such a problem.

Don't try to remove it until all other wheel bolts are snugged.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-09-2020, 05:20 PM
Dubyagee's Avatar
All fields are required
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SE
Posts: 8,721
Wheel "helper" piece stuck

Vice grips. Tap on the end of the rod with a hammer dead on while trying to turn it.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-09-2020, 05:50 PM
vwnate1's Avatar
Diesel Dandy
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sunny So. Cal. !
Posts: 7,717
Exclamation Alignment Tool Stuck

Wow what a nightmare .

Vise gripes are going to be the solution, no wrench, adjustable or other is going to have sufficient grip .

Yes, this tool is alloy and may snap off .

If so use a reverse twist drill to remove it .
__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-09-2020, 06:41 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 313
Having a bad day? Be sure your turning the correct way to remove,COUNTER clockwise.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-09-2020, 07:02 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Posts: 2,512
GOT IT!!! Thanks guys for all the tips and commiseration. Might be time for me to start writing checks to have someone else maintain my car.

What finally worked was a crescent wrench and a breaker bar. Thank goodness the threads on this piece were softer than the threads in the housing. It's not magnetic, so I'm guessing it's aluminum. The threads on the housing were a little damaged, but fortunately I had the proper tap to clean them up - 12mm x 1.50 if anyone cares. Wheel is back on. All five lug bolts seemed to go in and torque down just fine.

I think what happened is that when I first put the wheel on, it kind of hung with all its weight on that thing and started misaligning the threads.

I certainly won't be using that "helper" again and I'm pretty sure I won't be looking hard for a replacement.
Attached Thumbnails
Wheel "helper" piece stuck-img_3493.jpg  
__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-09-2020, 10:14 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,941
Quote:
Originally Posted by sokoloff View Post
I certainly won't be using that "helper" again and I'm pretty sure I won't be looking hard for a replacement.

I made one out of a long 12mm bolt. Just grind off the head and good to go.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-10-2020, 09:17 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 320
I'm just going to say it:
Mxfrank, you are a real gift to this forum! Your empirically-based knowledge, sense of practicality, and conciseness is a pleasure to witness and benefit from. Thank you.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-10-2020, 12:32 PM
vwnate1's Avatar
Diesel Dandy
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sunny So. Cal. !
Posts: 7,717
Post Guide Pins

Bolts with the heads lopped off also make wonderful tranny alignment pins when you're doing clutch work .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page