Fixing Right Wheel Bearing in Mercedes

This bulletin applies to Mercedes-Benz model 117, 156, 186 and 246. A hard metallic cracking noise may be heard from the front axle. The noise may be duplicated with steering to left lock, loving off sharply, braking to a stop, steering to full right lock and moving off sharply in reverse.

If this maneuver produces a single or multiple cracking noise, the cause lies in the right wheel bearing. If the complaint is mirrored with right steering lock in forward and left lock in reverse, the cause lies in the left wheel bearing.

Remove and replace the wheel bearing on the affected steering knuckle. Clean the wheel bearing seat in the steering knuckle before installing.

Thinly coat the wheel bearing seat with long-life grease (P/N A 000 989 63 51) over a width of 20-25mm on the side of the groove for the retaining ring. Thinly coat the wheel bearing outer race with long-life grease across its entire width and press the wheel bearing into the steering knuckle. All surplus grease that is forced out must be removed.