Hey guys, I'm getting ready for a 2500-3000 mi trip and trying to get the '95 as road worthy as I can to avoid trouble. For a short while I've noticed a 'noise' - kinda like a faint rubbing sound - as I am driving on smooth pavement and make a turn to the right. Doesn't happen in any other direction.

I have done a quick visual in the wheel well to see if there's something amiss but I'm seeing nothing. I know what the rear wheel bearing sounds like when it starts to go but this is not that sound. I called local Benz parts dept and had them order in two bearing kits (@ $80ea - %$#OUCH*^%!) for tomorrow morning. I checked NAPA online and it tells me they've got them (considerably cheaper) in stock but it wasn't telling me brand so I thought I'd go MB. Am I 'throwing' parts at it in a bit of a panic since we're leaving on Saturday morning?!?!

Any other suggestions will be welcome - Thanks.

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Dale

It sounds sound like an emotional panicked response to me - I'm prone to do them too! I think the thing to do is to take your time - replace what you need and make yourself happy with the vehicle before you leave.

Have a good trip. (And buy break down cover if you haven't already got it!)

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



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

you can move the front tire to rear to check for sound, a faint rubbing sound is usually the start of bearing failure. You need to be careful in adjusting the locknut (MB specify to use a dial gauge)

I bought all 4 bearings on amazon for about 22 dollars and both wheel seals at NAPA near my workplace for 10 dollars.

The bearings I bought were US made timken brand - while the seals were in a NAPA box but the brand was NOK.

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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)

I went ahead and picked up the bearing sets for the front end at NAPA. They are SKF brand - which apparently is their "premium" bearing according to The Guy there I ordered the grease seals from MB and they will be in tomorrow A.M. Then I plan to do the one I suspect is going bad (driver's side) and see how painful/painless the project proves to be for me and decide if I want to tear into the passenger side before or after said trip!

I raised the car this evening and took off the wheel and there's definitely 'play' in the bearing. When I grasped the rotor at the top with one hand and the bottom with the other, I most certainly get movement and noise from it. At almost 147K, it's not a bad thing to do EVEN IF it would HAPPEN to not be what was making the "faint rubbing" noise....but THEN I'll still be frantically trying to figure out THAT noise

Thanks for the replies!

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Dale

Yes, the NAPA (SKF) bearings are a good deal.

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Prost!

Replaced the left front bearings without much problem and loaded up and headed out! Drove ~1000 miles yesterday and have made it problem free to the first leg of our trip. I'm always amazed at how smoooth this car is at 75-80mph! There's a world of difference how it rides on this trip compared to the same trip we did in 2010. I replaced the self leveling spheres and it is a totally different car. I am going to spend some time over the summer/fall replacing suspension bushings as I'm sure they could stand to be renewed. I'll post again as I can to let you guys know how were getting along! :-)

PS: two tanks fuel got ~21.5mpg third one got just under 20...@ 75-80mph.

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Dale

HERE'S a link to my trip update if you're interested!

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Dale