Broken wheels nuts. C180. R reg.

[tractorboy]

Please forgive me for being stupid, I have a 1997 R reg c180 and have recently discovered the previous owner has broken not 1 but 2 wheel nuts on one wheel.
What I want to know is what is the part called they have snapped off in, where is the best place to get spares new or 2nd hand and how easy is it to do the job, I have had quotes in the region of £150+.
I live in the Ipswich region if anyone has any suggestions.

 

[Ron Palfrey]

Please forgive me for being stupid, I have a 1997 R reg c180 and have recently discovered the previous owner has broken not 1 but 2 wheel nuts on one wheel.
What I want to know is what is the part called they have snapped off in,

Wheel hub

where is the best place to get spares new or 2nd hand and how easy is it to do the job, I have had quotes in the region of £150+.

Unless you have the kit to drill out the remainder of the wheel bolts, and retap the hub threads, it might be better to let the professionals do it. I personally would do it myself on my car should it happen to me, but I always grease the bolts before putting a wheel back on so hopefully it won't. You've just been unlucky that someone else had it happen before you got the car. Centre pop the broken ends, drill out to just below the minor diameter of the threads, clean out the small bits of thread remaining afterwards, and clean up the female threads by running a tap down them. Sounds easy when you say it but it'll take ages on the car believe me. New wheel bolts shouldn't be more than a few pounds each from Mercedes. Less from a breaker.

 

[tractorboy]

Many thanks for that Ron, I am now after if possible the parts required to do the job, so if I get someone to do it for me it will just be labour incurred, I will probably replace the unit but my brake disc are a seperate unit so what is the part called that the bolts are stuck in, is it called "the hub"? and if this gets replaced does any thing else have to be replaced.

Many Thanks in advance.

 

[television]

Yes you could replace the hub,, the front ones are easy, but the rears are much more expensive due to the higher labour cost of removing the half shaft

 

[tractorboy]

So again without sounding stupid, all I will need is a front drivers side hub, do I need any bearings or anything like that or is it just a straight swap.

 

[C220GJS]

No.17 in the second diag. is the part you need;http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...417717.418&CT=F&cat=45H&SID=33&SGR=030&SGN=01.
You will also need the bearing kit,No.38.

 

[tractorboy]

Excellent many thanks for everyone's help.

 

[David Nock]

Reading posts, no one seems to have advised traveling only with great care on the 3 remaining wheel bolts. I would suggest you do absolutely only the bare minimum miles to get it repaired.

 

[alancee]

if you or anyone is going to drill retap the holes please go to an engineering machine shop ,the threads are not standard ,either 12mm fine pitch or 14 mm fine again ,but not ordinary fine pitch,it does hold your wheel on and if it flys out and hits someone you will be in trouble,centre pop is no way to do it ,it has to be clocked in and pitched out,should not cost any more than £60.00 +vat

 

[David Nock]

Please forgive me for being stupid, I have a 1997 R reg c180 and have recently discovered the previous owner has broken not 1 but 2 wheel nuts on one wheel.
What I want to know is what is the part called they have snapped off in,

Wheel hub

where is the best place to get spares new or 2nd hand and how easy is it to do the job, I have had quotes in the region of £150+.

Unless you have the kit to drill out the remainder of the wheel bolts, and retap the hub threads, it might be better to let the professionals do it. I personally would do it myself on my car should it happen to me, but I always grease the bolts before putting a wheel back on so hopefully it won't. You've just been unlucky that someone else had it happen before you got the car. Centre pop the broken ends, drill out to just below the minor diameter of the threads, clean out the small bits of thread remaining afterwards, and clean up the female threads by running a tap down them. Sounds easy when you say it but it'll take ages on the car believe me. New wheel bolts shouldn't be more than a few pounds each from Mercedes. Less from a breaker.

No offence Ron, but I've applied a small amount of grease to my wheel nuts or bolts for 40 plus years, until a friend said it was wrong. I've since checked owners manuals and most say "Do Not oil or grease wheel fixings".

 

[alancee]

i can understand the grease /oil bit but copper slip should be ok,its the air ratchets thats the problem cause anyway

 

[Ron Palfrey]

No offence Ron, but I've applied a small amount of grease to my wheel nuts or bolts for 40 plus years, until a friend said it was wrong. I've since checked owners manuals and most say "Do Not oil or grease wheel fixings".

Hello David,
No offence taken. There is always someone that thinks they know better!

 

[wireman]

I always leave a slight amount of grease on the wheel bolts, It is not recomended by any of the people who have an interest in taking money off you for repairs.

Having had one rusted wheel nut impossible to remove with the tools I carry with me and after spending two days on an island awaiting helps arrival I shall continue to add a little grease as required to my wheel bolts.

Why not:-

Too much could result in grease getting onto the brakes.
Or the windy powered wrench thingy that the tyreman uses could overdo the bolts and damage or break them.
The wheel bolts could possibly work loose and a wheel fall off whilst driving.
Grease and grit = grinding paste which may damage or weaken the threads.

Work arounds:-

only apply a little grease.
only tighten wheel bolts with the wrench supplied with the car (or one of the same length) to the torque specified.
always check the wheel nuts at regular service intervals (or more frequently if you wish).
make sure that there is no grit etc stuck to the grease before the bolt/hub is assembled.

Wipe them with a greasy rag and sufficient rust protection will be applied.