I'm replacing the support bearing on the driveshaft, and it doesn't seem to want to move into place. Is there a trick to getting the bearing onto the driveshaft? The FSM and the tutorials I've read are thorough in their steps, however they all seem to skip over actually getting the bearing in place. Am I missing something? A rubber hammer maybe? Or is it just a case of pushing it until it goes?

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1980 240D, 197580 miles - "The Stuttgart Stomper"

Take a good look at where the out side of the bearing, the nice smoothly ground part trasitions into the rounded edge. Often where it transitions has a shape edge.

take some 500 grit wet dry Sand Paper and round off the sharp edge on the side of the bearing you are going to press inside that rubber coated Mount.

Get 2 pieces of Wooden Board or something sturdy and flat that will not damage the Bearing and put the Bards in the Vice Jaws (or use a C-Clamp with more or thicker Boards).
Coat some Dish Soap in the inside of the bore of the Bearing mount; insert the Bearing and gently squeeze the Bearing into the Mount.
Leave everything like that for about an Hour an slowly back off the tension and see if the Bearing wants to stay put. If the Bearing does not want to stay squeeze it back together and let it sit overnight.

If it does not want to stay after that I don't have an answer.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The bearing goes into the mount without any resistance (is that a bad thing?). It stays in there fine. It's popping it onto the driveshaft that I'm having trouble with.

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1980 240D, 197580 miles - "The Stuttgart Stomper"

perhaps you have a burr on the driveshaft. look it over extremely well. it's also possible you have the wrong bearing...

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Sorry I misread what you said. I had read several accounts of the Driveshaft Support bearing not wanting to stay in the Rubber and I had in My case the Bearing went in but came out part way; so when you said it was popping out it did not register that that could happen installing it on the Drive Shaft. I though you were having the same problem as I had.

People have been using a section of Pipe to drive the Bearing onto the shaft.

The Inside diameter can also have that sharp edge issue. Others might disagree with this but I was taught to lube the Shaft and the Bearing ID when installing Bearings on a shaft. Engine Oil is OK for that.

What is the Number that is on the new Bearing and does it match the Old Bearing Number. I am not speaking of the Mercedes Part Number but the Numbers on the Bearing itself; sometime the number is on the Shields.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Mine was slighly tight and some others have had trouble getting theirs to say in but I don't know if that is typical.

I believe the Drive Shaft Support that I bought was a Myele one.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The important thing to remember when fitting the bearing in this case is that you only apply pressure on the inner race. If you whack the outer race when fitting this bearing you'll stand a chance of killing it.

Looking at chapter 41-100 in the FSM; if the outer race slots into the rubber mount with ease then you probably need to replace it. I get the impression it isn't meant to go in all that easily. I don't know for sure 'cos I went for the easy solution and bought the whole mount complete...

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Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

That makes sense. The mount bracket is made by rein. This is the first time I've used anything by them.

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1980 240D, 197580 miles - "The Stuttgart Stomper"

I acquired a 7" length of pipe that just fits over the spline of the drive shaft.
get the bearing started square then pound it home hitting the pipe. The pipe will hit only the inner race. Don't forget the little keeper washer pound that on with the bearing.

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1984 300SD turbo 126
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