how easy,tools needed for rear hub bearings on w124 300te

[smithie]

hi guys
my 1990 w124 300te has just failed its mot, nothing to major,i of the failers being rear wheel bearings.
ive popped to my local garage and have estimated the job at £300ish depending on how easy they are to get off,i asked if it was a job i and my collection of hammers could tackle...there answer was...NO WAY,I WOULD BE CRAZY TO EVEN CONSIDER IT.
but as no doubt like so many of you money is tight and if i can save money i want/need to.
they quoted £80 each for the bearings,ive got this down to £36 from gsf,so theres alittle saved,what i need now is a totally honest answer regarding fitting them,i have axel stands,jack,tools and good mechanical knowledge
so whats your views regarding my situation?
also is there any special tools etc i will need to do this job other then my outstanding collection of hammers and curse words.
any infomation,insight,experience would be of great help as the haynes manual isnt to insightful,on that point has anyone else noticed how of late these manuals dont have the diagrams,blow up views of these components anymore,so much for a picture beats a thousand words!
thanks for any help,advice
smithie

 

[nicky]

The rear wheel bearings are not all that difficult to do,,if you have a decent socket set and a little mechanical know how.....and the hammers..

 

[TimN]

This might help you

http://skinnerbox.steaky.org/Service/W123/w123CD2/Program/Chassis/35-360.pdf

It's the 123 series so check to see that it wasn't modified for the 124.

You will need a very good socket set to do the job. The link above is conveniently witht he hub carrier removed from the car but it is not necessary. If your in the Hertfordshire area I can lend you the special tool.

An alternative option is to get second hand complete trailing arms.

 

[smithie]

hi guys
thanks for the input.
ive started oneside today and now someone mentions a special tool!
got driveshaft nut off,disc and caliper and have undone all the bolts attached to the hub...then darkness fell!
if the weather holds out tomorrow i shall carry on but by the sounds of it im not going to get far if a special tool is needed,as its my only transport and its now in bits it looks like im stuffed unless anyone has done it without the tool.
thanks for the link tim and the offer but alais i live at the end of england...landsend,cornwall.
all the best
smithie :?

 

[smithie]

hi guys
at the moment im like apollo 13,i have a major problem and i cant turn back!
ive undone all the bolts etc and the hub is hanging by the drive shaft but it wont come off!
ive tried tapping it,soaked in plenty of wd40 but its just laughing at me,would hit it harder but the hub is cast so i dont really want to do that....i guess this is where the special tool is needed!
any idea how much this merc tool cost,or if another tool will do? if so which one and how much?
im open to any surgestions here guys and gals,i live in cornwall so dont have the advantage of big motor factors and vast collection of specialist tools nearby...HELP PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!
smithie :Oops:

 

[Richard Moakes]

Sorry, put it back together and take it to an independant.

Let me know your email address, I will send you the pdf's from the workshop manual, you will understand why.

Cut your losses on this one :-(

Richard

 

[andy_k]

Ideally you should have a press and spacers to seperate the hub and bearing - you can improvise with a large vice and some decent sockets but you may also end up needing a proper bearing puller for this job (especially if it goes wrong and the bearing inner race stays attached to the hub).

Sometimes, it's better to bite the bullet and let somebody else do the job for you.

Andy

 

[SLinKyjoe]

i think we a due a series of post pruning. complaints about thread editing maybe thrown in the bin thanks.

 

[smithie]

Sorry, put it back together and take it to an independant.

Let me know your email address, I will send you the pdf's from the workshop manual, you will understand why.

Cut your losses on this one :-(

Richard

hi richard tried to send you a pm but for some reason im not allowed,so heres my e-mail address,many thanks
smithie.
smithiesretreat@aol.com

 

[smithie]

hi everyone
well i took your advice and put it all back together and seeked out the only indepent specalist for mercs i could find here at penzance,i had to wait two weeks before they could do it as they were very busy,anyway nov 14 it went in to have the bearing done,rear brake pipes and horn sorted,then moted and at last i would be mobil again.
rang in the evening to see if it was ready only to be told,,,no not yet,please ring tommorow same time.
i never got to that point as they rung back mid afternoon saying the tool needed to get the hubs off had broken and he has sent it off to be repaired,estimated time till they get it back and can do the job is 3wks min!
i asked if they had done the other jobs,there reply was no as they wanted the hubs to be the start....so what was being done the day before? and how would it have been ready on the same afternoon if the tool hadnt broke?
i never got charged..how could they,the trouble is its cost me two wks waiting,now another month maybe,and on the perforamce so far i aint holding my breath then!
so im pleading with anyone that lives in this area if they know of a garage that can get the job done and quickly? or a solution to doing it myself( rang merc for price on the tool needed,they quoted £501 +vat,then theres other tools needed as well,cant believe the trouble im having with all this,its my only transport,so christmas is looking gloomy if i cant sort it as it has no mot which means i have no transport or will have till after christmas at this rate!
once again any ideas,recomendations,help i sure would be grateful.
all the best
smithie

 

[Richard Moakes]

Mercare
Unit 4, 38 Sutton Rd, Plymouth, PL4 0HE - 01752 226282

Ask for Eddie if he is available, he owns and runs the place.

He prefers older models like W124, W201 etc... but does good work on the newer stuff too.

Good Luck,

Richard

 

[smithie]

hi richard
thanks for that,the trouble is plymouth is about 75 miles away from me,as the car has no mot i would be pushing my luck driving it all that way (i know the law says you can drive it on the road for mot testing,but 75 miles may be pushing it!)
thats the trouble i face the nearer you get to landsend the less choice i have,theres bplenty of garages here,but ive had replys like just adjust them up,as we know that caNT BE DONE which means they have no idea of whats involved and i dont want to get into another situation of wasted time and the garage realising theve bit off more then they can chew!
ill keep ringing and hoping!
thanks
smithie