I am getting ready to replace the front wheel beraring on my '86 300E.

How difficult or easy is it to remove/press the outer races of the bearings from/into the hub?

Do I need any special tools or if anyone could suggest to any home brewed tools, I would greatly appreciate it.

TIA.

__________________
1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold

Also, would having a little 1 ton arbor press be helpful?

__________________
1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold

bump.

__________________
1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold

When I replaced the bearings on my 140, I had to take the rotors in and have the new race pressed into the hub. I didn't have a press so I could not do it myself. The front ones were pretty simple to remove the hub carrier, but the rear was a real bother, with 5 strut arms and the emergency brakes, it took hours to remove the rear hub carrier. I would recommend taking your front carriers to a shop and have the race pressed in, this ensures that you will get it in there properly and aligned.

Why are you replacing them? I've never seen a set of these bearings that need replacing. If they have even a little grease they'll last forever.

Good luck,

I just had the right front wheel bearing on the 87 190e fail ..... while driving. Not pretty, quite scary but luckily OK. The car has about 230k miles.

I was on the highway, just came off a series of twisty mountain roads and noticed a bit of front disk squeal all of a sudden. Rock or something I thought and continued. Went from one highway to another and all of a sudden a clunk and a lot more squeal and a slight list to the right. Stopped way off to the right side of the road, got out and checked around and didn't see anything obvious but drove home real slowly.

I took the right front wheel off and shook the disk/hub. It wobbled. I took the dust cap off and it was obvious the bearing failed. I took the hub off and found the outer bearing attached to the axel!

I had to replace the hub/axel and the bearings came with it (used). Car is back on the road and is fine once again.

I know I adjusted the bearings about 15k miles ago. I should have removed them and cleaned them, repacked them and then adjusted them.

Hope this sends a careful suggestion/reminded to everyone with higher mileage cars. Remove the bearings and clean them.

Haasman

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

I use a 3 lb hammer and a piece of 5/8th drill rod about 16 inchs long to knock the old races out(you catch the inside edge of the old race with the drill rod and tap firmly at different pionts around the race, then use the old races and hammer to tap the new races in after I have cleaned the hub of all the old grease.Then it a matter putting some wheel bearing grease in the hub between the bearings( I think they call for 2 oz not sure) ,pack grease in the new bearings,tapping in the new rear seal after instaling rear bearing . putting hub on spindle , put front bearing in ,put thrust washer and locking nut on . I tighten the locking nut till it's hard to turn then back it off a third of a turn ,put grease in cap and put cap on. If you have a dial indicater and a manual showing it's use you can set to factory specs instead of the way I decribed.don't forget to lock the locking nut with allen wrench.......

William Rogers........

I put the new races in the freezer for several hours prior to driving them in. They seem to always goes in easily.

Haasman

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

My experience with 2 different mercedes has been that the wheels started making noise. The front wheel made a rattle on my little 280, and by that time I had the same issue as previously described, the race would not come off the spindle. The 140 had a minor roaring noise coming from the rear, and at highway speeds it was loud. The dealership thought it was tires, then alignment, but turned out to be the bearings. So when a mercedes makes funny noises, squeals, or rattles, something is very likely wrong. I drive thecar once a week withought the radio on just to listen for potential problems. Happy Benzing!
Brian

I pulled the front left hub out as I could feel a little play in the wheel when I jacked it up and shook it (holding at 6 & 12 'o clock positions).

Upon removing the metal cap on the end of the wheel hub, I could see that the inner race of the outer bearing was loose and i could move/shake it just by pushing with my finger.

I removed the hub, but has to use considerable effort to do it.

Does the inner race of the inner wheel bearing just slide onto the axle or do you have to force it in?

I tried to slide the new inner race onto the axle and it wouldn't go in. It is tight where the bearing seating surface just starts to transition to a tapered surface. After that it just slides on. I am talking about the seating surface of the inner wheel bearing.

Does this mean my axle is toast and I need a new one?

Thanks.

__________________
1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold