rear wheel bearings

[murray720]

it sound's like i'm starting to get a humming sound from my rear end and i'd like to change my rear wheel bearings. i understansd they are sealed bearings and it's necesarry to remove the rear axel but how bad is the job and is there anythin paticular i should look for?

---63' 220s (111)

I am also completing this in the new future on my W115. I am curious to know what this entails ... I didn't think you needed to remove anything but the brakes and hubs?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

The W115 has a semi-trailing independant rear suspension with exposed, double jointed axle-shafts.

The 220S has a single pivot swing axle with enclosed axles. It's basically like a solid axle with a swivel joint under the differential. My Mercedes repair manual shows a special puller that clamps to the axle tube, with a yoke and screw device that pulls the axle shaft out of the housing after the brake plate is unbolted. Also shows a special wrench to remove the special bearing nut from the axle. The manual recommends not to use a slide hammer type puller because of possible bearing damage but, if you're going to replace the bearings anyway...
Are you sure it's the axle bearings humming and not the differential gears? how's the differential oil level.

I recommend reading the appropriate Mercedes repair manual before starting on either project.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[murray720]

the rear boot was one of my first necessary repairs. i did this about two years ago and since i have consistently checked and rechecked the gear oil. i'm going to be doing a complete fluid change (of all my fluids tonight) so again i'll check the rear diff.

my thought of attacking the rear bearings are twofold.

-the car is forty years old and who knows their condition and/or when they were last changed

-(a year or so back) i changed the front bearings and they were in such a state to where i had to pull them out piece by piece. i had 5 or six shredded bearings on each side

thinking about it... it's probably time to regrease the front.


anyway
this weekend i'll be taking the old lady on her longest road trip since my actual ownership. a trip down the coast to San Diego. it's only a three hour drive and i've figure i've already done at least that sitting in los angeles traffic.