Shop having trouble with w124 rear wheel bearing replacement
 

Hello-
I own a 1987 300TD W124 (S124) wagon and the right rear wheel bearing is making a whining sound. I read about the process of replacing it myself, and decided it is beyond my abilities. So I took it into one of the only two shops in my town (San Luis Obispo) which has a strong reputation for German cars. They confirmed my hunch that my rear bearing needs to be replaced, and are currently working on the car.





Unfortunately, they are having trouble getting the bearing out of the spindle/knuckle (which has been removed from the car). They are still trying a few other things and getting help from an outside company which does this sort of thing, but there is a chance that they cannot get the bearing replaced. So they brought up the possibility that I might need a new spindle.



To buy a new spindle is beyond my budget right now for a car which cost me $2500 six years ago. The bearing replacement is costing $800, plus $150 to diagnose the problem, plus $1300 for a spindle is absurd for a car which will probably need the same job on the other side at some near date. Please excuse the pricing... San Luis Obispo is not an inexpensive place to live. So I am looking for advice as to alternatives.



Under the premise that they cannot get the bearing out of my spindle, does anyone know:
1) Could I find a spindle from a non-wagon w124 in a junkyard and use that? I bet I could find a sedan somewhat locally to take from, but probably not a wagon.

2) Could I use a spindle from a w210 in a junkyard, or are they too different?


When the shop calls again (probably tomorrow), I want to be as prepared as possible with my options. Thanks so much for any help you can provide.

Yeah any 124 spindle will do. There's a few on eBay for less than $100 shipped.

The bearings are unique on the wagons, they are taper needle bearings


Not easy

Are you sure the spindles are the same? The bearings are wider on wagons than sedans.

Is there rust? If not it should come apart.

Quick check of the EPC shows you need 124 350 11 32 for the rear right knuckle. It is a different part number than the sedans and seems to be exclusive to the wagons. The list price is $1050 but Keyes Mercedes has it for $718.20

I should note that it may be useful to check Car-part, if this knuckle is screwed, you should be able to get one from there for a few hundred at the most.

Thanks for your thoughts so far. I don't know if rust is present and I have not actually seen it and they didn't explicitly mention rust.

The shop mentioned $1300, which I assume covers their markup. I don't think this is the type of shop which will install parts that I supply.

The part number of the spindle for the sedan has been updated to a w202 part number, so I think some c-class mercedes share the spindle with the w124 sedan. But for the wagon, the part number hasn't ever changed and is still a 124 number. Also, the use the same circlip, so the bearing diameter is the same, but the width or geometry mentioned above must be different.

There is a company on the german ebay which seems to refurbish the spindle with new bearings and then sell that complete assembly. Including shipping, it would only have cost ~$400 for parts and I bet I could have done the labor on that. Oh well. Hindsight is 20/20.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RADTRAGER-RADNABE-HR-MERCEDES-E-KLASSE-W124-GROSSE-BREMSE-WHEEL-BEAR-REGENERIERT/264550191627?

At this point, I just hope they get the bearing out for the original price quoted. If the left side bearing goes soon, I would be better off buying a refurbished one from germany.

I also put an ad up on the parts wanted section of this site. Perhaps someone has a spindle which they don't need, and perhaps its bearing will be easier to replace.

If anyone has more ideas, please let me know. Thanks again.

There's several w124 wagons in Bay area pnps

A complete used hub assembly with the bearing and spindle in place may be a solution. My understanding is the spindle is the piece the goes through the center of the bearing, the axle attaches to the inner side, the brake rotor slides over it and the wheel bolts to it. The hub houses and holds the bearing.

The spindle presses out of the bearing. The bearing presses out of the hub after removing the snap ring/clip.

Yes, the wagon bearing is wider.

Good luck!!!

bearing
 

I recently did mine and even using the factory tool it would not press out , I eventually used the factory tool inverted in a press, and when it let loose parts went every where it was tough, but now its nice and quiet,its 23 year old wagon , buying a whole carrier/spindle is not a bad idea

Is what the bearing is stuck on in this diagram?

2nd pic I it is on the hub itself is what the red arrow is pointing at on the Hub itself what is stuck?

D911- No, the bearing is stuck in the large object which all of the suspension arms bolt to. The shop referred to it as a spindle or knuckle, and MB EPC refers to it as Wheel Carrier. It doesn't have a number in your picture, but the line from the axle (37) goes directly up toward the item in question. It has a hole which holds the wheel bearing inside it, and the axle goes right through it to get power out to the wheel itself.

Perhaps it is me, but I have learned to be a hard nosed negotiator when it comes to money.

Since the shop has quoted you $800 to replace the bearing plus $150 for diagnosis, I would tell them that if they are unable to perform the work as quoted, you will pay them $150 for the diagnosis.

Send a tow truck to the shop and have your car transported back to your place where you can easily deal with the problem ON YOUR TERMS.

Thanks I think you are speaking of the attached pic part.

Is the whole bearing still in it or just the outer race of the bearing?

Do you know if it can be removed from the Arms with out changing the alignment?

On eBay the Baum Tool brand bearing remover and installer is $282 part number 1240543. Note I searched for Mercedes W124 rear bearing tool.

Note also on eBay there is the same tool cheaper around $55 listed as "Mercedes-Benz Press Rear Wheel Bearing Hub Remover Install Axle Bush Puller Tool" it has unbranded made in China

That brings up the question is Baum Tool also selling a Chinese one?

Amazon also tends to sell the same items.

And if someone was willing to go through the trouble to re-sell it after the job you could recovers some of the tool cost.

With the tool someone could change both of the rear wheel bearings if that is what you wanted to do.

Another method would be to remove the Knuckle and take it to an automotive machine shop and let them remove the bearing and install the new one.

When I was a Kid back in the 1960's My Father got too high of a quote on a Transmission job and we pushed the Car off of the Shops lot and parked it on the Street and came back with some chain and towed it home with our other Car.
Also back then Mechanics would take something apart and then up call and try to up the price on a job using the fact that it was apart as leverage.

Being a member of an Auto Club gets you a free tow if you have not used up your services.