awbooth

Hey guys... Been wrenchen on the wifes car for a while. This one is a pain. I hear a thumping rubbing grinding sound coming from drivers side front hub. Thinking its the wheel bearing... How do I get the bearing out of the hub and how does the new one go in? I heard stories of pressing it out, putting the new one in the freezer before installing in the hub... Can the hub assembly be replaced easily or does the whole front end have to come apart, AGAIN THIS IS A 4 MATIC!! Any help would be awesome, thanks!

PrestonFarmer

The first reply to an ages old post. I just replaced the drivers side front wheel bearing on my wife's 2003 C240 4Matic.


I purchased the bearing and retaining clip from mbonlineparts.com for $72 (including shipping). Removed tire, popped the center cap out and reinstalled the tire. Then, I removed the axle bolt and jacked the car back up, removed the tire again, then brake caliper and pad bracket and brake rotor, backing plate and ABS sensor. Pulled tie rod end and lower ball joint off of steering knuckle, then removed the two bolts holding the knuckle to the strut.


I took the steering knuckle to a local machine shop and they pressed out the old bearing and pressed in the new one. Don't try this part at home; the machine shop guy told me it took 12 tons of force to press out the old one.


No special tools or air tools were used, although I used a torque wrench on the axle bolt and lug nuts and a big a$$ breaker bar for the axle bolt and the knuckle to strut bolts.


Total cost: $72 in parts, $45 machine shop, 3 hours labor. The most difficult part was removing the rotor. I had to use a lot of heat because it was rusted on pretty well.


This job was much easier than I had been anticipating.


Cheers,
Gaines

samaritrey

Good work now take the wife out with the money saved

awbooth

yes sir!!

awbooth

If I replace the entire hub assembly with bearing pressed into it already could I do the whole job myself without and special tools or going to a shop?
I'm assuming you had pressing tools to disconnect the tie rod joint and ball joint? Thanks

PrestonFarmer

No. The bearing is pressed into the steering knuckle as well. If you're going to replace all that, you might as well bring it to the dealer and have them just replace the bearing (and give you a loaner car). The ball joint and tie rod end were removed by using a prybar to apply downward pressure while using a hammer to (carefully) strike the knuckle. Works like a charm on any car from Subaru to MB.

awbooth

I see. So you disconnected the tie rod end joint and the ball joint from the knuckle. Than disconnected the knuckle from the strut. You than took the knuckle to a shop where they removed the old bearing and installed the new?
Did the new bearing you purchased come with a retainer c clip? Does it even have a retainer c clip on the 4matic? Thanks for your help by the way!!

awbooth

also.... what made you want to change the hub bearing?

PrestonFarmer

You are correct. If you want to replace the retainer clip, and you should, it is a separate part. I ordered from MBOnlineparts. The bearing was making a lot of noise. I had no question that it was a wheel bearing.

awbooth

ok, cool. thanks again!

Kraztsun

Probably going to look like an idiot asking this, but I'm getting ready to do all of this on my 06 C280 4Matic. And you mentioned on here that you should always replace the retainer clip, and that you got it from MBOnlineparts.com, however I do not see any parts on MBOP called a retainer clip. Is it called something else on there? Can you get me the Part # please?

I have replaced an entire assembly before, but have not had to manually replace the bearings. I sell steel for a living, and have friends with machine shops and a press to do that. Just want to make sure I have everything needed before I get started.

Is there a specific grease you recommend?

EDIT: Nevermind, think I found it, had to scroll down and find the 3rd diagram. 201-994-16-41
Wheel Bearing Snap Ring