I took my rear tire off to fix a problem with a broken strut, and I noticed that its almost impossible to turn the axle. It requires 30 lbs or more of pressure and I can barely do it with a screwdriver. It appears that the brake pad is touching the rotor. I am not sure if that is the main cause of the resistance though. The parking brake is not enabled. Is this cause for concern? How hard should it be to turn the wheel? How can I isolate the problem? Take off the brake? Can it be adjusted? Thanks!

Yes its a concern. Try spreading the brake pads just a bit..take the pins out, along with the small metal positioning plate and insert an oval (wooden hammer handle?) between the backing plates and turn until they move away from the rotor a bit. If axle turns OK, be happy. If not you have deeper problems. Apply the brakes and it no longer turns until you repeat above? Then you have either a sticking caliper or a blocked rubber brake hose. Loosen bleeder valve...if it turns now after a bit of fluid under pressure spurts out then its the hose. I'd put my money on the caliper.

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Hanno
'79 6.9 Sold (after 27 years)
'83 280SL, 5 spd.
'94 E320 Sdn. 5 spd conversion
'02 E320 Sdn.(on loan to mom!)
'87 300E (5 spd. conversion) Sold
'05 E500 Wagon

I had a similar prob when I bought the 190- was a caliper dragging, causing the dreaded "pull to the..right". I didn't drive it and saved up for all 4 and did brakes all around.