wish I had read this series sooner maybe saved you a bunch.

Bet it's a spalled wheel bearing.

I had a very similar hunt on my son's car for almost 6 months. Outboard wheel bearing had flaked off a portion of inner race--noise started right after car was on a lift for tire replacement. Maybe impact wrench jarred just enough to pop the flake loose. Gradually got quieter, but was still very annoying when finally found.

For all you interested, the thump is still there loud and clear

I was gonna take my car up north to my cottage and wanted to stuff my moped in the back seat. I removed all the padding, but still it didn't fit, however without all the padding I can still hear the thumping loud and clear, it's there all the time.

Kebowers, you are confirming what I have found by replacing every single moving part in the back, I guess my next job will be to do the bearings. I can pull the wheel carriers off without a problem now so I'll take them to a shop and get the old ones pressed out and new ones put back in. I have no idea how this process will look like but from what I heard it can get quite messy, so I guess it's a good idea to leave the rest of the car at home in case something is to get damaged.

Now to find a shop that has a BIG press and did this before. Hunt goes on.

Besides that, the car drives like a dream after I rebuilt the back end, parts for the front are in my bedroom and I'll take care of it as soon as it cools down a bit because working on your car in 35C weather plus humidity is not the best thing to do

xp

__________________
1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

XP:

I'll still bet it's the wheel bearing, but I know what you mean. I replaced the torque and thrust link on the right side of the 300D to cure a torque steer problem, with the result that I can now hear the one on the other side starting to thump. I've already got the diff mounts (all four), and since the subframe mounts are not only squashed but begining to crack and separate at the rear, I'm going to do those, too -- will probably remove the entire rear axle so I can get to everything more easily and do it all at once. Might even get really crazy and get camber struts and new bushings for the tie rods too!

Naturally, I need to repeat this entire job on the TE, too......

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

well as soon as I figure out who can do the wheel bearings I will order both and get it all over with. For now I have to do the front end and get my wheels aligned.

Keep everyone posted psfred, it helps as you can see

xp

__________________
1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

xp

What's up with the thumping?

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

still there hassman, been working a bit too much recently to get down to the wheel bearings. Need to save up some money for school, it's possible once I go back I'll do the wheel bearings, car drives fine, I seem to be the only one who notices the thumping now, well my dad hears it too.

xp

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1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

Hey everyone, I know some members have been following this thread so I thought I would give you all an update.

I checked the wheel bearings today and the one that seems to be thumping has a bit of play on the vertical, so I devised a plan to address the wheel bearings.

First, I will be ordering two wheel bearing kits (rear) from partsbin, if anyone has any feedback on these parts, I'd appreciate it, good or bad, maybe I should avoid them altogether, they are a bit pricey for me $60 per set. Next, I will be ordering a benchtop 12 ton press to get the suckers out, of course in order to do this, I will be taking off the entire wheel carrier, one at a time, this I have done already to replace the suspension bushings and it is not all that much work once you crack open the double hex collar nut.

Now I KNOW that pulling the old bearings is quite a workout, worst case scenario, I have a dozen car shops about a block away so I can take the wheel carriers and walk to the first better one and see what they can offer, BUT, I want to do this myself.

At the same time, I would like to change the wheel carrier covers, they are rusted through and cause the hand brake to pop out of its intended place, these I will have to get from the dealer, but replacing them should not be that big a deal, and will make me feel a lot better.

To help me out, I have my dad who works in a machine shop and can make all sorts of attachments for me to get this job done, which I am sure will help a great deal.

Once the old bearing is out, the job is more or less done, putting it all back together is not that big a deal, done it twice already.

I guess what I would like to know if there are any tricks to do this job, I'm sure lots have been through it already, I myself have seen it done, but that is not the same as doing it yourself.

Feedback is always appreciated

xp

__________________
1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

XP

Good here an update.

If it were me, since the entire wheel carrier is being taken off, just take them with your new bearings to a shop that has the press. A lot less expensive than buying your own, I would think.

Thanks for keeping us posted,

Haasman

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

xp

Just read through this whole thread. Have you found your problem? I feel like I just read a mystery novel and came to end to find that the last page, that reveals that the butler did it, was torn out.

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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

2006 - Suzuki Gran Vitara (2.0 L fully equipped) Like this car so far except for trying to put on the seatbelt.
1988 - 190e - 2.3L - 172K miles (It now belongs to the exwife)
1999 - Chevy Blazer LS Fully Equiped - killed it June 2006
2001 - Honda Civic EX - 68K miles (sold June 2004)
1963 - 220S - Dual Carb 6 cyl. (sold)
1994 - Yamaha WaveRaider (fun to ride)

euronatura unfortunately there is no conclusion yet. I thought I was on the right track many times now. If you read everything then you can see that I'm making some arrangements to get the wheel bearing replaced because it is the last remaining part that I have not touched. Sine this is a bit of a big job, I am trying to organize a few things to make sure everything is done correctly, so it is taking much longer then I would want it to, but this is how things are when you are short on money and full time in school.

Unless someone would care to donate a passanger side rear wheel carrier with the wheel bearing, it might be a bit longer still.

Believe me, I need some closure on this just as much as you and many others who have followed me on this journey

I do use the car still, I didn't put a chain on it, and so far the wheel is still on the car, people tell me to just ride it out, but it annoys me too much to go with that kind of a plan.

xp

__________________
1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

Hi there XP,

Any news????????? I just finished reading the entire thread. I admire your dedication!!

Jim

It may be the ventilation of the gas tank.
Me 300SE had also al thumping sound.
At 60MPH a valve opens and ventilates the carbon canister. This releases the pressure of the gas tank. This can make a thumping sound.

Checking is easy, just pull off the vacuum line of the switch in the motor compartment.

For now I've been driving around with the thump, I hear it all the time but it's very faint. Once I'm done with my current project, I'll be changing the wheel bearings on my good old 190E. That's the last item on the list, but at the same time I will be rebuilding the entire front since no one wants to do an alingment on my car

xp

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1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

Ladies and gentleman

For those of you who have followd this thread I have good news. I finally managed to lose the thump thump noise coming from the back end. As I mentioned earlier, by process of elimination I came to the conclusion that it must be the wheel bearing, sure enough it was.

Since changing the wheel bearing itself did not seem like a very economical option, the cover and the hand brake mounting disc was extremely rusted, I decided to find a donor car in good shape and take what I need from it.

About two weeks ago I found the car, a beautiful 190E, not sure what year, but it was a 2.6, unfortunately for it, it was rear ended and quite bad I should add. I found it at a local junk yard that specializes in domestic cars. I managed to pull the carrier off, which is not an easy job and paid a whopping $45 for

Over the week, I changed the control arm bushing just for good measures, another $43, and today I swapped it with the old one.

I just came back from a test drive and it was beautiful to finally drive this amazing car without the thump that came out of nowhere and seemed to be something I would have to live forever with, but I didn't give up, and now it's gone, and I hope for good as well. The old bearing was infact worn out, very lose when spinning, but not on the axis, and it makes a graoning sound on every turn, so I guess that was it.

I apprecaite everyones support, and I hope that the ones who have followed this thread looking for closure will finally have it, just like I have it now

Your dedicated mercedes fan....

xp

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1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

Well, you should have some time now to find a new girlfriend & impress her with your quiet car.

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2007 C 230 Sport.