Are we supposed to have a wheel bolt alignment tool in out roadside kit? It would seem to be pretty much needed but I can not seem to find one. Guess we are just supposed to call Roadside Assistance....or grow and extra arm or two.

 

You need to purchase the "wheel hanger" tool. The part number is A 140 403 00 74.

 

Thanks I'll get one.

 

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...sing-tool.html

 

I've owned 15 new Mercedes, and this is the first time the wheel hanger was not included in the onboard tool kit.

My dealer's parts man ordered it for me, and let me have it gratis - he too couldn't believe they weren't including it with the car.

 

lol @ this old head continuously letting everyone know how many cars he owned...

lol... no disrespect.


on topic: ill need to grab one a these too... ill talk to the dealership.

 

Thanks.

 

OK - just trying to add a little experience to a board that seems to be dominated by youngsters - no disrespect, of course.

My point is and was that there's not much reason for the wheel hanger tool to have disappeared from the trunk. It must cost a grand total of what, $1 at the factory level? Of course, the rest of the tools that used to be part of the trunk kit have gone away, as well, on the [probably safe] assumption that you aren't going to attempt any roadside repairs.

Of course, I had to crawl under our '73 4.5 in the middle of the Mojave desert and tighten the transmission pan bolts to fix a leak 35 years ago, but that's another old fogey story that none of you want to hear....

 

I have worked on my own vehicles & others for almost a lifetime ( another old fogy) in this country ( Australia) & have never come across a wheel hanger tool. !!. Don't see them used in tyre workshops either.

Keep those old tales coming John.

Remember the saying "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

 

Just wanted to say Thanks again to all who posted info and part numbers. I used mine today and it was a life saver. Cheers.

 

Life saver?, come on!, you actually mean that you cant mount a wheel without this tool?

 

Maybe, like me, they meant clean hands, clean shoes and clean pants saver...you can't argue that the physical process of putting the wheel on requires a lot more strenth and balance and maybe luck without the hanger.

 

Its just as easy to hang the wheel on the hub itself.

 

You got to be kidding right? So why would a part like this even be made? I see you are a MB Tech and that is great but these are to be used on the side of the road, not neccesarily on a lift. Traffic, unlevel roadsides, rain, mud etc can make it much harder to change a wheel. You arguing that "it can be done" is already understood. We already know "it can be done". How would the wheel be able to hold up the cars weight if it couldn't hang on the hub....
Can you honestly not admit that the hanger would at least be helpful?

 

It would have helped me when I installed my rear spacers in my garage. Plus, it would be useful just because it would speed things up when aligning the holes in the wheels with the holes in the hubs.

 

I agree it could be helpful, but 8 out of 10 customers I have wouldnt know how to use the tool anyways.
My hangup is that so many seams to make a big deal out of this tool not supplied with the 204.

 

I didn't know anything about it until I read a thread about it several months ago. I knew about them, but I didn't know some MBs come with them.

 

Two observations:

- All Mercedes I've ever owned had this tool included, until our W204. This was the first time I had to go to the parts dept to order it.

-Try hanging a 48 lb tire / wheel combination "on the hub". Only somebody who has never tried it on a Mercedes would suggest you can do this without the whole thing falling on the ground. The hub is less than a quarter inch deep. It's there to locate the assembly with the bolts attached, not hold the wheel without them.

I do all of my own rotations at home in the garage - the wheel hanger is essential to making this exercise possible at all.

 

My AMG wheels are flat on the back........ you know something about my car I don't Mister MB tech ?

 

the wheel doesn't hang on the hub, you have to hold it there and thread the first bolt to "hang" it. The spare (donut) can be mounted without the hanger tool, but its hard to mount the actual wheel without it.

 

There's no reason for the snide remark as Vic just stated a simple "fact" from my experience. I agree with Vic that the wheel can be "slightly" hung on the hub, then held from falling off with one hand, and then start a bolt with the other hand. I know this to be true as I can rotate the wheel as it hangs on the hub if not perfectly aligned as I start my first bolt.

I have had my wheels off numerous times and have never struggled or had an issue putting a wheel on as Vic mentioned. On the other hand if people think the "tool" is easier for them to install a wheel then there is no wrong with that either.

 

if you REALLY are an MB tech, you do all your wheel mounting on a lift.

Picture hanging a 50 lb 18" rear wheel on a hub on a dark night alongside the road. That little threaded shaft is a must.

I also bought one when the last mile long thread on this subject was current.

 

Sure I mount a lot of wheels with cars raised, but as our workshop has MB 24h Service on call, I have went out on numerous late night flat tires, and yes I have mounted a lot of spares in pitch black darkness, freezing temperatures and ten inches of snow.

But I dont say its wrong to use the tool, I just find it a bit strong to call it a life saver.

 

You know, I never knew such a thing existed! I have had access to, or owned, 4 Mercedes ranging from late 60s models to a 2008 W204. And in my younger days I worked in my family service station/tyre repair business and change tyres on many more Mercedes. In all that time I don't recall seeing such a device.

But I will be visiting my dealer to purchase one now I know about them. Changing a tyre in snow and ice isn't something I have to worry about in Australia, but I can see usefull these things can be.

 

Part number: A204 581 00 74