Difficulty getting wheel bearing cap back on?
 

I'm having a hell of a time getting the wheel bearing cap back on.

Trying the old and the new ones. Tapping with punch around the edges always pops one side in and the other out.

I've tried hammer lightly around the cap, which never goes in straight. I've also tried with a block of wood in front of cap.

There is a small indentation at center, but I'm not sure if this is strong enough to withstand direct hits from a punch?

Try using a socket or pipe that goes over the cap and catches the lip on the outer edge so that you hit straight on.

Is there too much grease in the cap preventing it from going on?

I thought about too much grease, but most of the interior of the cap isn't coated, so no.

Will try to find a pipe that fits.

I always just hit it with whatever is handy. Usually a dead blow hammer or whatever was used to take it off. Hit the high side if it starts crooked.

You need a good hammer like 2lb and a block of hard wood and show it who the gaffer is.You could file the edge a little to let it centre up .But clean all grease out after because it will catch all the swarf in the grease [ metal bits ] Dont over fill it with grease , or it will find its way in to the braking ststem .

Clean out the old one and use it as a drift to drive the new one on.

Excellent ideas, thank you! Heading to the garage now...

I've always used a plastic mallet with no trouble. The genuine mercedes caps are a lot tougher than the aftermarket. I've found the aftermarket caps will deform with even moderate hits from the mallet, while the OE parts do not. Some use a piece of pipe fthat's sized to fit over the cap top, and drive the cap on using the raised lip of the cap.

I did dent the aftermarket ones, but left them on as it seemed to not pinch. Used a rubber-headed deadblow. I kept the originals in case.