Replace wheel bearings than hub too?
 

1. My 87 190E 2.3 needs a rear wheel bearings replacement, it’s been making the noise about 32,000 miles ago that I didn’t know what it was.
2. The question is because I left it for this long do I need to change the whole rear hub (wheel carrier), or can I just do the bearings?

Thai GI sends...

What kind of noise is yours making? I get a whinning from the rear of the car that changes pitch with speed. It does not go away or come back in with accels or decels. I've also noticed that when I am in a right hand turn, the noise goes away.

I am thinking that it is the right bearing beacause it is unloaded during these turns. I don't want to change the wrong one as it will take some time to do and the bearing is expensive. I paid $78 just for the one.

Your hub should be fine. Just change the bearing. Mine has been doing this for 15-20k miles.

Same thing
 

1. Same thing even on the same side (passengers).
2. You can get the whole assembly; hub, flange, bearings, and all 5 links attached at the junk yard for $75. I was out there today it will also cross with the W124 series.
3. Please don’t get offended when I ask what are your credentials to say should be OK to only just do the bearing and don’t worry about the hub? I would think so too but I don’t do this everyday and don’t see the common problems if any with this region of the car.


Thai GI sends...

Well maybe I should have gotten the whole kit and kaboodle. I hadn't thought of a yard, but I didn't know that the bearing assembly was such a substancial piece. The bearing assembly is so robust as to be almost over-engineered. My assesment comes from working on farm equipment while growing up and on cars for 20 years and an automotive engineer for the past 18 years. That's all. The design of the rear hub and bearing assembly did not lead me to believe that there would be any adverse wear/damage to the hub from normal bearing wear. I suppose it is possible for the shaft to wear if bearing lubrication is lost, but I think that the bearing material would be the first to go. I hadn't known it to occur but I don't work in a shop so I can't say it doesn't happen. I'll find out when I remove mine.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.