Wheel bearing play... is my Mecedes Manual wrong? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alanclrk · #16 03-12-2013, 06:54 PM

Thanks all!!!

Orv · #17 03-13-2013, 07:56 PM

The Mercedes manuals are a bit like UNIX manual pages...they're a nice reference if you know roughly what you're doing, and just need a few reminders. If that's not the case, they leave a lot out and can be hard to interpret. I'll sometimes read both the Haynes and the Mercedes procedures for the same job, if I'm unsure.

Zulfiqar · #18 03-13-2013, 09:38 PM

the wheel bearing procedure is pretty much the same as every other car, the clearance is surely tiny but can be achieved - on a w124, 201, 210, 202, 129, 140 etc be sure that the disc is bolted to the hub across from the set screw to eliminate any flex.

You then have to literally YANK the hub outwards - and read off the dial gauge. You will notice that the pinch nut has a slight drag torque at the correct setting as it is taking up the weight of the hub and disc.

If you then read some other manuals like the VW, porsche, toyota, datsun etc. its pretty much the same deal - MB went ahead and put a number for it - so they can specify or look out for errors in workmanship.

Experienced mechanics can set it up by feel and still not be at exact setting, if its the first time for you best follow the procedure - you can also use this for every other car too.

alanclrk · #19 03-14-2013, 02:03 PM

I've done other wheel bearings but I'm not a professional mechanic and I appreciate checking the adjustment with a dial indicator. It also meant I finally used the dial indicator after having bought it years ago at Harbor Freight on sale. I think I will use the procedure on other vehicles.

I have run across poor documentation in my life particularly in corporations where some engineer is writing a procedure. Writing good documentation is hard to do, of that I have no doubt, but sometimes I felt they were opting for lack of clarity and technical obfuscation on purpose. It may cover their lack of understanding and/or it may cover their butts because vagueness can be later interpreted as "that's what I was saying".

I don't have that much experience with Mercedes manuals to pass much judgement other than to say,the sure aren't easy to work with. It's not well indexed, parts have names that don't translate into the names I know and procedures can be hard to follow.