Well, it's been awhile since I last wrote.
The last few weeks I could hear like a grinding/scraping coming from the rear of my 98 Ml 320. Thinking it was the brake pads worn out, I thought I could operate until I had time to replace or do a complete brake job. Tonight I was on the last 20 miles of a 200 mile trip when the rear end started to vibrate/shudder at intervals, like those wake up bumps on the shoulders. The intervals of vibrations were random, then all of a sudden it was continous. I got out and the wife just coasted it and I could hear/feel the vibration coming from the rear axle area. Could this be the wheel bearing(s)? Is this expensive? Can an ordinary domestic car mechanic repair this? can I do this, or do I need special tools? Is there a way to tell exactly what it is? Could there be more damage than just the bearings, like axle/spindle? The vehicle has 179k.

Thanks again,

Kevin