W210 rear wheel bearing change pt 1 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 06-12-2020, 12:43 AM

My friend's E300 was making a grinding sound from the rear, and I determined a new rear wheel bearing was needed. I ordered a bearing kit from our sponsor, and put the bearing in the freezer as soon as it arrived. Later I put the car on the lift and started the job. The first step was to remove the wheel, caliper, and rotor. I then had to remove the two rear most exhaust hangers to gain enough room to get the axle out from between the pipe and differential. The next step was to remove the axle. Getting the six E12 inboard joint bolts was not too hard, but the hub end was a chore. I first tried a drift punch and a hand sledge, but it just laughed at me. I rigged up a railroad spike with the end ground to a point (biggest facsimile to a drift punch I could find) being held by wires so I could whack it with the full swing of a sledge hammer. I got the axle out, and now for the hub. The only thing I found for use as a "washer" (OD just smaller than the ID of the bearing, and a hole in the middle for the slide hammer shaft) was my 3/4 drive 46mm socket. I had to grind it down a bit, so it would fit inside the bearing. About ten minutes of sliding the weight with all I had, the hub was liberated from the bearing. I then removed the race from the hub using a chisel. Next= Part 2

ROLLGUY · #2 06-12-2020, 01:02 AM

Once I got the hub off, I removed the snap ring holding the bearing in. I then turned around the 46mm socket so the big end was against the bearing on the inside. Another ten minutes of slide-hammering, and the bearing was out. Installing the new bearing (frozen for about six hours), was pounded in using the old bearing and the hand sledge. On went the new snap ring. I used some crocus cloth to clean up the OD of the hub, and sprayed on some silicone lubricant. I used the ACME screw from my spring compressor to press the hub into the bearing. It worked well placing several washers against the surface that the axle nut tightens against so I could get a wrench on the nut. Next the axle was installed. I wire wheeled the splines, and it just slipped right in. I tightened up the axle nut (new supplied with bearing kit). Part 3 below

ROLLGUY · #3 06-12-2020, 01:11 AM

Next was to install the six new E12 bolts (in the kit) on the differential end of the axle. The exhaust hangers bolted back on, and rotor and caliper installation completed the job! The third photo is the grinding of the socket.
I believe this job would be the same for a 124 or newer car. It turned out to be not as hard of a job as I thought it might be. A few special tools are needed, but with a little improvisation, I made what I had work!.....Rich

RunningTooHot · #4 06-12-2020, 10:14 AM

Congrats and thank you! Your clear, concise write ups are always a pleasure to read and will serve as a valuable resource for forum members seeking information in the future.