Hello all, my S430's front left wheel is making a humming noise which increases with speed and there is a slight shimmy when I go above 50mph... I think it's the front left wheel bearing.

I ordered a new front wheel hub bearing for my 2000 S430, the WIS said I have to pack the bearing with 60gm and 15gm for the cap. I called my MB dealer's parts dept and see if the bearing grease is available, the guy told me I don't need any bearing grease, the hub is sealed, just put it on and it's ok...

Is this true? Do I need any bearing grease? Do I need to pack the bearing? Also, how much force do I need to take the old hub bearing off the knuckle arm... Any input is appreciated!

yes they are sealed, have you checked the tire as the source? how many miles do you have on it?

see wis document ar33.20-p-0310-02i
epc shows the hub assembly as a single unit complete with bearings only seperate items are the dust cap and locking nut
part number 220-330-07-25

I have 89,000 miles on it... I will have the tires rotated to see if the noise goes to a different spot...

So if I have to replace the bearing, all I have to do is take off the caliper and the rotor, loosen the small bolt on the clamp, and then take off the clamp nut... pull off the bearing, and put on the new bearing, tighten the clamp nut, and then tighten the small bolt?

Any special thing to look out for?

Oh, how hard is it to pull the old hub bearing out?
If I don't have a puller, can I put the wheel on and whiggle it off?

Thanks for you help

chk out http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb.asp
play around and you'll find a diagram

also chk out 'Buy Parts' on the top of any www.peachparts.com page. go to the front bearing I think it's under 'Driveshaft and axle`

kind of lucky you have a sealed bearing lot easier to replace. I've never done the job on a 220, but I have on other models.

You'd also have to remove the caliper bracket

The hub should pull off the spindle with no problem once the lock nut is screwed off, ( but it is true that on some cars the hub won't just pull right off) also order a new bearing cap (hub cap).

I haven't done the job on your car, but I would assume the front bearing needs to be tightened to a proper specification.. On my car I needed to use a dial gauge, I tried doing it by feel but was never even close to the what the dial indicator showed as correct - and it took multiple tries with the dial gauge.

Hey Carson357... I received the bearing for my 2000 S430, it looks like it is sealed. So do I still follow the old procedure to install the bearing? Do I need to check for play? Or is there a particular torque I need to tighten on the adjusting nut?

Also, I put new tires on my car, over 50mph, there is still a shimmy, but it seems like the humming noise is gone...

Do you think it's the bearing hub? or could it be the bushings?
How often do the bushings fail?