What's the issue?

I am amazed that Mercedes did not use the Ball Joint Removal issue as a chance to make yet another expensive Special Tool.

If you want to you can buy a Bearing Packing tool that hooks to your Grease Gun for around $10.

I do it by hand but I would have a tough time describing it. If you saw someone do it would only take you a second to understand.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

First I gotta get out the inner seal and bearing. I've broken and torn it with a hammer and screw driver, but can't get it out. And do I need to soak them to get them clean?

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

Find a tool with a small hook on the end...........one that you can hit upward with a hammer. Hook the seal and smack the tool with a hammer and it'll pop right out. Takes much longer to find the perfect tool than to do the job.

You soak them in mineral spirits to dissolve the grease. Then you wash them carefully in acetone to remove all traces of oil.

Then you pack them.

Take a hammer and a chisel or old screwdriver and deform the metal ring that is the outside diameter of the seal. Once you put a crimp in the ring it will come out much easier.

You'll need to soak both bearings in a solvent to dissolve the old grease and then spray the solvent off with carb or brake cleaner.

http://www.peachparts.com//shopforum/showthread.php?t=49645&highlight=pack+bearings

http://www.peachparts.com//shopforum/showthread.php?t=54846&highlight=pack+bearings

Then you need to remove all the grease that remains inside the hub also! The only way is to use your fingers and rags to get as much out as possible first, then some solvent soaked rags, and last a half an aerosol can of carb of brake cleaner. Let it dry, install the packed inner bearing, then the new seal (put a little grease on the rubber seal lip), put the hub on the clean spindle, outer packed bearing, spacer, clamp nut, check the wheel bearing end play, and some grease in the cap and you’re good to go.

I believe you wish to state "check and set the axial bearing clearance"..............

Actually, the MB specific terminology in the Service Manual Chassis and Body Series 123, Volume I 33.3 -300/1-4 F2 is "Wheel bearing end play" (0.01-0.02 mm is the spec incidentally) but I will concede that my use of "run-out" in this case is incorrect use of that terminology!

Oh, goodness. How does one check said play? Feeler gauge?

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

Dial gauge attached to hub and centered on axle end.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Attaching it to the hub is difficult.

Attaching it to the rotor is a piece of cake if you've got a mag base.

The how to do it is in the Repair Links
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/forumdisplay.php?f=82

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/DoItYourSelf

Harbor Freight has an inexpensive Dial Indicator and Magnetic Base. Or maybe there is a local Member who would loan you one.

I tried to set the Wheel Bearing End Play by hand like I had on all of my other vehicles and ended up over heating the Hub and had to go back and remove all the Roasted Grease and do it the correct way.

It has been I guess 2 years now and no problem after doing it the right way.
Do-it-yourself section is pretty good.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Well, I think this bearing play is going the way of the rotational torque: not gonna happen, sorry. It's not the end of the world if I do it again.

And for all those generic press naysayers: I called the MB dealership to see if they'd press in the bj, and the service guy said I should just rent a press from this place and I asked him if they have the specfic MB tool and he said it's all generic. Kabam.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

I sincerely hope that you're not drawing any conclusions based upon the opinion of "the service guy" at the dealership..................

Surely the advice of a bona fide MB service advisor should take precedence over all others!!! Evidently, those MB presses that I thought I had seen were just figments of my imagination. Kabam!!!

Yep..........must be the case. Why use a $700. tool when you can get by with a loaner from Auto Zone for free.

You must be just wasting your money........................Kabam.