I was recently checking my '97 E 300 D 2wd front wheels for ball joint wear. I noticed that the drivers side had no bearing play, where as the passenger side had what I feel is normal bearing play. I have never been able to buy a shop manual for this car, but with past US built cars I would have tightened the spindle nut until the wheel showed resistance to turning, and then backed off a quarter turn. What is the DIY procedure for this car?

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'97 E 300 D

Google: ." Timken Wheel bearing play"

Mercedes spec is rather tight and IMO can only be properly achieved using a dial gauge. Properly set, you will not *feel* any looseness.

In the absence of a dial gauge, the shadetree procedure is as follows:
- Tighten the nut while rotating the wheel until it is hard to rotate the wheel. This should properly seat the bearing and take up any slack. Don't worry about damaging the bearings from this step - they can take it.
- Back off the nut until slack. Don't rotate the wheel.
- Tighten the nut finger tight, then clamp the nut in place.
- Done