over 2200 miles on a bad rear bearing... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vstech · #1 05-22-2011, 11:19 PM

RIGHT at the 200,000 mile mark, I started hearing slightly noisy bearing... I at first thought it was the diff, no such luck. I have a 95TE with vented rotors, so I'm going to swap the entire hub, perhaps the entire subframe... not sure yet. I'll do it as soon as I'm finished with my sister's hyundai timing belt swap. (don't offer to do this for anyone that's not blood!) as I'm sure it will not be a 1 hour repair...

I wonder how long I can drive on a bad bearing before it self destructs...
the noise is getting louder each day.
when I get it apart I will take pics and put them here in this thread for all you sico's...

Stretch · #2 05-23-2011, 03:07 AM

Can you measure the play now - and later?

dagObx · #3 05-23-2011, 11:34 AM

I have been running on a bad bearing since November. It's because since I've been going to cancer treatments I haven't had the cash to fix it. I had one of the rear bearings replaced in October. Been travelling between Buxton & Durham (534 mi round trip).

Bearing gets so loud that I can't hear the radio sometimes. Don't know how long I can get away with it, though.

Stretch · #4 05-23-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagObx

I have been running on a bad bearing since November. It's because since I've been going to cancer treatments I haven't had the cash to fix it. I had one of the rear bearings replaced in October. Been travelling between Buxton & Durham (534 mi round trip).

Bearing gets so loud that I can't hear the radio sometimes. Don't know how long I can get away with it, though.

Good luck with both your bearing and the treatments - 'shame you're on the other side of the world - I'd fix it for you.

charmalu · #5 05-23-2011, 11:03 PM

Same here, I would give you a hand replacing the trailing arm. Iam closer, but on the other side of the country. like 3000 miles.

I pulled the trailing arms from a w123, and PNP charged $42 each, which also included the Hubs.

I think the W124 rear suspention is a little more involved than the W123.

Charlie

layback40 · #6 05-24-2011, 01:15 AM

Would love to help but I am a bit far away!!!

John,
At about 600k my old 123 developed a noisy rear WB. I didnt feel like replacing it.
Instead I drilled a hole into the hub between the 2 bearings, tapped a thread in it & installed a grease nipple. I pumped my favorite EP grease (molly) until it just started to push on the seal & it shut the bearing up. 200k miles later it was still quiet when I retired the car.

Stretch · #7 05-24-2011, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

...
John,
At about 600k my old 123 developed a noisy rear WB. I didnt feel like replacing it.
Instead I drilled a hole into the hub between the 2 bearings, tapped a thread in it & installed a grease nipple. I pumped my favorite EP grease (molly) until it just started to push on the seal & it shut the bearing up. 200k miles later it was still quiet when I retired the car.

Now that is a great fix - well worth the (minimal) effort

vstech · #8 05-24-2011, 11:54 AM

hmmmm I may look into that. but I want to swap over the updated hubs/rotors/calipers/subframe assembly anyway... I can wait (I hope she will wait for me)

dagObx · #9 05-24-2011, 01:28 PM

What would be the possible damage be due to not replacing the bearings soon enough? I would think it would score it or something...

BTW, thanks for the "flowers". Treatment is going well & full recovery is expected. Now, to find a job...

Stretch · #10 05-24-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagObx

What would be the possible damage be due to not replacing the bearings soon enough? I would think it would score it or something...

It depends how bad it gets and for how long you let it go - I dare say there are lots of horror stories out there - However, I would expect that the majority of the damage would be contained within the bearing race => the bit you're going to have to change anyway.

If the bearing was totally gone - worn away / rollers fallen out - then there will almost certainly be damage to the hub. In this case I guess the noise would be incredible... The vertical play in the bearing would be millimeters perhaps a centimeter? If your bearing is in this condition I think you need to stop driving the car for your safety and the safety of others.

JB3 · #11 05-24-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagObx

What would be the possible damage be due to not replacing the bearings soon enough? I would think it would score it or something...

Absolute worst case could be the bearing gets so hot it melts and welds to itself and the hub, possibly hard enough that the wheel stops turning, then the axle snaps or you blow a gear in the diff or tranny, hub gets torn to bits, brakes on that wheel are completely destroyed by heat, tire falls off the car at speed or stops completely, loss of tire results in total loss of control followed by unspeakable violence and destruction.

dagObx · #12 05-24-2011, 05:06 PM

Thanks Army & Dropnosky!

What a wonderful set of issues to look forward to. Better save up to fix it, even tho
my indie isn't worried about it. I told him if it seized he would have to fix it & don't even
think about charging extra for it. If I didn't need the car so bad I'd have parked it long ago...

Stretch · #13 05-25-2011, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagObx

Thanks Army & Dropnosky!

What a wonderful set of issues to look forward to. Better save up to fix it, even tho
my indie isn't worried about it. I told him if it seized he would have to fix it & don't even
think about charging extra for it. If I didn't need the car so bad I'd have parked it long ago...

I'm glad to hear you've had it checked by someone you trust - good luck.

Stretch · #14 05-25-2011, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropnosky

Absolute worst case could be the bearing gets so hot it melts and welds to itself and the hub, possibly hard enough that the wheel stops turning, then the axle snaps or you blow a gear in the diff or tranny, hub gets torn to bits, brakes on that wheel are completely destroyed by heat, tire falls off the car at speed or stops completely, loss of tire results in total loss of control followed by unspeakable violence and destruction.

Oh happy days!

vstech · #15 05-25-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropnosky

Absolute worst case could be the bearing gets so hot it melts and welds to itself and the hub, possibly hard enough that the wheel stops turning, then the axle snaps or you blow a gear in the diff or tranny, hub gets torn to bits, brakes on that wheel are completely destroyed by heat, tire falls off the car at speed or stops completely, loss of tire results in total loss of control followed by unspeakable violence and destruction.

I'm thinking of worse serious problems...

WORST case, it gets really bad on a long high speed drive, superheats the steel, causing the brake fluid to ignite, resulting in the close proximity fuel hoses to burst and spray hot diesel fuel under the car, as you drive into the back of a fertilizer truck due to lack of brakes and ensuing fire... the explosion happens near a nuclear power plant, and the rupture in the space time continuum obliterates the universe...