W124 repair advice needed - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselPaul · #1 02-17-2011, 10:36 AM

So my 1987 daily driver has a drivers rear wheel bearing going bad. So I ordered up a rear wheel bearing and I got a front one to put on the shelf just in case.

My understanding is the rear wheel bearing is a bit of a bare, everything has to come apart and the car has to get aligned afterwards.

My subframe mounts are also bad, and I've read up and want to go with the W202/Sportline mounts.

My car thuds in the back of the car when you shift to reverse, my understanding is this is the driveshaft carrier bearing, which online seem to be only like $20.

So here is my question, the wheel bearing HAS to get done, its making my car pull and tearing up my front tires, I can't run my summers until this is fixed. But my question is, how far am I from doing the subframe mounts and carrier bearing if I have the rear suspension apart and am getting the car aligned anyways?

I DO have access to a lift, and a spare car, or 5. But I don't want the car down for months. I need the car done in the next 4 weeks. Can the whole lot get done in like... I dunno 4 days of actual work?

Thanks!

vstech · #2 02-17-2011, 10:40 AM

have you read bhodi's thread?

DieselPaul · #3 02-17-2011, 10:47 AM

I followed the build on facebook. Looked like a cluster... well it begins with cluster.

vstech · #4 02-17-2011, 11:12 AM

yup. but she pulled it off so far it seems!

dagObx · #5 02-17-2011, 11:35 AM

FYI, I just had one of my rear bearings done by my indie - too complicated for me, especially with a bad shoulder. Took him about 2.5 hrs to do. Now the other rear bearing is whining it's butt off & will have to be replaced.

I know this doesn't answer the rest of your question about the subframe mounts, but I would think that while it's up in the air on the lift would be the time to at least do the carrier bearing.

winmutt · #6 02-17-2011, 12:00 PM

Dumb question, how did you diagnose it as the bearing? Making noise?

Quote:

its making my car pull and tearing up my front tires,

Points to other issues.

punkinfair · #7 02-17-2011, 03:28 PM

to me repairing the rear wheel bearing and/or carrier bushing is a different project than the subframe bushes. if you don't have much in the way of OE tooling to re/re the bearing on the car i would recommend you remove the bearing carrier from the car and then you can use a press to re/re the bearing and the carrier bush. this removal mandates looking at or replacing some of the suspension links also. it's a big job but it's completely do-able for a competent hobby mechanic.

babymog · #8 02-17-2011, 03:38 PM

x2.

The rear wheel carrier can be removed with ordinary tools without messing up the alignment, just remove the end of the link that is not adjustable.

When you do this job, have the lower wheel carrier bushing replaced also, I'm willing to bet it's either bad or close to bad and it's so much easier with the wheel carrier off.

DieselPaul · #9 02-17-2011, 03:59 PM

I put the car on a lift, unloaded the rear wheel has play in all directions. It is also noisy. That's why I think it is bad. Looking under the car with a flashlight and playing with the wheel the play appears to be in the hub, no bushings are moving.

The front wheel bearing went bad today as well, it like seized up. Started chirping and making a ton of noise and the wheel has some good play in it. Looks like this weekend I'll be doing the front on the ground and the rear when I can go use a lift.

Tearing up tires points to alignment. But I'm not about to have it aligned with a bad rear wheel bearing in it, only to replace the wheel bearing in a week or two and have it aligned again. Plus most places here have "zero play" rules and they wouldn't align it.

winmutt · #10 02-17-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

Looking under the car with a flashlight and playing with the wheel the play appears to be in the hub, no bushings are moving.

Sounds like a winner.

babymog · #11 02-17-2011, 07:06 PM

If the front is "chirping", you might be looking at buying a whole spindle/hub assembly now.

The rear will be more of a pain to take apart now, the bearing will come apart in two pieces instead of one, ... making it a bit tougher to press out. BTDT.

DieselPaul · #12 02-17-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Sounds like a winner.

Sarcasm or you agree? Hard to tell online.

Yeah based on what I was told about how the ****ty mechanic did the front wheel bearing there is a high chance I'll need a new spindle, he is a total hack.

winmutt · #13 02-17-2011, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

Sarcasm or you agree? Hard to tell online.

Yeah based on what I was told about how the ****ty mechanic did the front wheel bearing there is a high chance I'll need a new spindle, he is a total hack.

No I agree whole heartedly.