I mentioned in a post last night reguarding how simple was it to replace brakes . that I wanted to also change the brake pads in my 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300-E M103 ,but also repack the front wheel bearing as well.
Now I am a novis and this forum has taught me a lot about the world of Mercedes-Benz and how to properly service them Right!!

I have NO knoledge as to how to use a dial gauge to set the preload which I see in mentioned here in my return post and in the work shop manual. I am not going to start something that could jepordize the safety of my wife and my self and the mechnical reliability of this car.

I ask not to pose a requested for a manual of unnessary return post, but to fine prehaps a book that I can read that goes into dept on the use of a dial gauge to meassure preload when doing front bearing services on automobiles.

The only thing I do request is a brand of dial gauge and what accessories to look for to fit my 92 300-E? Other than that I donot want to be wasting anyones valueble time in writing me a term paper on this subject. I can learn my self and donot mine reading or buying the write tools to do the job.

Best Regards & a safe and speedy return of our military from over seas.
Bob Geco

FWIW, I would bet that out of 20 mechanics, maybe 1 or 2 would use a dialgauge to set bearing preload.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

I've only been in the business 37 years and have not had the need to use a dial guage on front wheel bearings, After servicing tighten the locknuttill it bottoms out but with out much torque then back off the locknut 1/5 of a turn (from one lugbolt to the next).
Good luck
Mike

I posted a thread awhile back on this subject, and there is a picture of the dial guage setup on the front rotor. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=100590
If you read it, we got into some interesting math and correct use of the dial guage on the Mercedes. My shop manual does explain the how-to though and I stand by my procedure. I've had no bearing problems since setting them 2 years ago.

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

this summer I replaced a front steering knuckle on my C-class, previously I had only done pads and rotors and shocks on my C-class (only car I had ever done this kind of work on).
I used this forum and google searches to get as much information as possible for the steering knuckle and bearing. I purchased a dial gauge, and as an experiment I tried to get the bearing to the correct tightness without the dial gauge, but it was only with the dial gauge that enabled me to get the correct tighness. I had no idea what it should feel like before attempting the job and the dial gauge was priceless for me.
I also ordered a bearing packer and brass punch and hammer plus a set of donuts to bang in bearing races.
The one mistake I made was stupidly installing the grease seal before installing the inner bearing/race. As a tip it is worth purchasing a spare grease seal or any item that is cheap.

I ordered a dial gauge from ENCO, I need to go into my paperwork to get the model. I'll probably never will use my dial gauge again, If you lived near me in baltimore I would let you borrow it.

http://www.tpub.com/engine2/en2-28.htm


http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRHM



dial gauge I ordered: Mitutoyo Dial Indicator 1" - .0005" (Enco Catalog #) 606-4725


Magnetic Base (Enco catalog #) 625-0335