driveshaft support bearing
 

Our 98 ML320 had a whirring sound but I don't drive it that much so I thought maybe it was just me. A few days later my wife says intermittently she hear/feels a grinding sound. I drive it don't, hear it. She thinks its brake pads that were just recently replaced. She complains several more times so yesterday I pull each wheel and inspect brakes. All OK. Today she goes out and comes back that the noise is worse than ever, metal against metal, happening all the time now. She goes out again, before I get a chance to drive it, gets about a mile from home and calls, vehicle has a terrible vibration she is afraid to drive it. I go and pick them up, bad vibration stops on way home. Upon inspection it appears that the bearing in the support has failed. This is not where it connects to the transfer case but in the middle of the shaft. I can't see how this comes out. Just had cats replaced and there is a hanger right below, must this be removed.

Does anyone have a procedure for this repair.

My wife was planning a trip this weekend I need to fix this or she'll take my JAG.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Marc

Count yourself lucky; my wife was 300 miles from home when hers let go!

This was close to a year ago, so some of the details are a little sketchy. I do remember this really wasn't a big deal however. I loosened the bolts holding the bearing housing to the chassis, then removed the rear half of the driveshaft. It's attached at the rear by four bolts with 16mm heads (kind of a weird size), and at the front you take the little bolts out of the center u-joint to disassemble it and remove the shaft. Then the bearing slides off the front shaft. Reverse procedure to install. No, I don't have torque values to retighten the bolts, just used common sense and blue Loctite.

Mine's a '98 also so they should be the same. Good luck and let me know if you have any trouble.

Maybe this drawing will help....

Lenny,

I couldn't have asked for better information.

That is exactly what I needed.

I appreciate your help.

Marc

The torque spec on bolt #44 (there are 4 of them) in the
diagram is 50 NM. As stated above do use blue loctite on the threads.

I'm having a little trouble.

I removed the support chassis bolts then the rear driveshaft as you mentioned. The bearing can't just slide off the front shaft because of the front shaft's side of the u-joint. I've removed the nut and washer from this but can't seem to get this end off. Do I need a puller? Nut much room to beat on it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Marc

uh, the bigger hammer method did it!