Wheel bearings
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 79
Likes: 8
From: Erie, CO
2016 GL550
Wheel bearings
Hi,
Lately my GL is making some grinding sound while rolling and to me it sounds a lot like a wheel bearing is on it's way out.
Had anybody already had a bad wheel bearing on their GLs?
How can you best identify which one is failing and how easy is it to replace those?
Thanks!
Lately my GL is making some grinding sound while rolling and to me it sounds a lot like a wheel bearing is on it's way out.
Had anybody already had a bad wheel bearing on their GLs?
How can you best identify which one is failing and how easy is it to replace those?
Thanks!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 283
Likes: 102
From: Maryland
S 550, S65 Coupe
I had one of my rear bearings go at around 125K. It would only make a low rumbling noise above 35 mph. You can tell which side it is on by listening when you go around an on ramp and the noise will stop when you are turning and unload the weight of the truck toward one side. Turning to the right and the noise stops, the bad wheel bearing is on the right. As for front or back, that can be tricky. I guessed on mine and thought it was the front so I replaced that first. I was wrong so also ended up replacing the rear and that solved it. Front is relatively eary as it bolts into the spindle. The rear is a press in bearing so you will have to take the rear spindle/hub off and have someone press it in. Not terribly hard but certainly more work than that front.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,711
Likes: 4,603
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Wheel bearing failure is straightforward to diagnose:
- driving at a speed where the noise is audible, steer left and right and listen for changes in the sound. For example do this on a highway with no cars around you. This tells you which side of the vehicle the failed bearing lies.
- driving at a speed where the noise is audible, apply the brakes firmly and listen for a change in the noise. For example do this on a freeway exit ramp. More noise when braking points to the front wheel bearing. Less noise when braking points to the rear wheel bearing.
- driving at a speed where the noise is audible, steer left and right and listen for changes in the sound. For example do this on a highway with no cars around you. This tells you which side of the vehicle the failed bearing lies.
- driving at a speed where the noise is audible, apply the brakes firmly and listen for a change in the noise. For example do this on a freeway exit ramp. More noise when braking points to the front wheel bearing. Less noise when braking points to the rear wheel bearing.
