I have significant constant whine on my Brand New (to me) 2011 GL350. It very much sounds like wheel bearings (more so in front than rear), so I'm changing both front bearings.

As a side note, this is already the most difficult repair I've experienced on any Mercedes to date. I broke two breaker bars on the axle nut alone. (I finally have a set of 3/4" drive impact sockets, never needed before). Lower ball joint is difficult to access, and joint spins inside the nut once nut is loosened...etc.

The bearings don't seem bad, and CV joints are sealed and feel good. I'm replacing both front bearings, both front half shafts, and both lower ball joints (just cause I'm in there).

My question for the group, the abs pickup sensor is near the inner race of the bearing. It's a National 510097 bearing, and it's absolutely symmetrical...no difference from one side to the other, with the exception of the model number printed on one inner race. Is there an orientation to this bearing, or will the abs sensor pick up properly regardless or orientation?

I searched 510097 and find no references at all to orientation. I don't want to press this in just to get a dashboard full of abs messages.


Thanks

Mark

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Mark in MA
05 MB E320CDI 402k Granite Grey Metallic
05 MB E320CDI 267k Black
05 MB E320CDI 232k White
05 MB E320CDI 209k Tectite Grey
99 Dodge 2500 Cummins 5sp 148k
62 Jeep CJ-6 120k

I have know knowledge of any specifics on your year and model.
In general if it is a ball bearing or double row ball bearing I can't see that it would matter.
However, it is common to mount the bearings with the bearing number facing out where you can read it. That is just to make it easier go order a new bearing.


Personally if I have time I like to get the bearing number and use the number to search on eBay for one that is made in the USA, Japan or even Korea. Because the Bearing Companies sell several grades of bearings. That means National sells the same bearing made in China as it may made in the USA or Japan or ?


You also save about 1/2 of the cost doing that.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Only one side seal of the bearing is magnetized - meaning it contains the tone ring for the ABS sensor. - You can see this with a metal object sticking to it or by using a card which has ferrous powder, it can show you the magnetic field and also if the tone ring is broken.

These are very common now and funny enough, when first came out were being used by Honda, a lot of Honda wheel bearing cartridges got installed backwards and then an ABS code popped up.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Thanks for the info on the magnetized end.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Next to the Sprinter it's the closest thing to a Mercedes Benz truck that you will get in US.

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Jim

Metris?

My Metris is the same size as a GL when parked next to one....also has higher payload capacity (2,400lbs)....and a suspension that looks like a ruggedized W210 in the front and a W126 on steroids in the back.

14mm diameter lug bolts torqued to 166ft/lbs! Its a beast! It also runs 42psi XL capacity light truck tires.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Thanks, Zulf, for the tip on the ferrous powder. I used the powder and it formed a perfect ring, utilizing either side of the bearing, so it doesn't matter which direction it's installed.

I pressed the bearings in, pressed new lower ball joints in, installed new half shafts, and replaced left outer tie rod end (I had bunged up the threads popping it out).

No dashboards codes, and nice quiet ride now.

Thanks for the help.

Mark

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Mark in MA
05 MB E320CDI 402k Granite Grey Metallic
05 MB E320CDI 267k Black
05 MB E320CDI 232k White
05 MB E320CDI 209k Tectite Grey
99 Dodge 2500 Cummins 5sp 148k
62 Jeep CJ-6 120k