W211 Wheel bearing change issues

matthew k

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I've just had my bearing changed (bearing/races) using a Febi replacement. As I drove off the ESP light started flickering, and then the ABS/ESP warnings started, and the servotronic steering went a bit haywire.

I feel stupid, I've seen the warnings. I presume the fault lies with the seal containing the sensor ring. Rather than starting all over again could I just fit a better quality seal? Either from Mercedes or similar? Thanks
 

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Febi stuff is top quality, are you sure you fitted it correctly or was the old one really worn so the car thinks the pick up forcthe sensor is off ?
 

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It is very sensitive to right distance, and allows no gap in bearing (I assume this is tight and ok with new bearing)
 

onefortheroad

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oh dear !!!! too much grease can stop you making the gap , you cant compress a fluid ,so people keep on tightening the end float nut and bingo ,another f**d set of bearings .


merc might sell you a ring if you ask nicely. :)
 
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LostKiwi

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When you put the seal on it needs to be flush to the hub. There's a tendency for most people to knock it in all the way.
 
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matthew k

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oh dear !!!! too much grease can stop you making the gap , you cant compress a fluid ,so people keep on tightening the end float nut and bingo ,another f**d set of bearings .


merc might sell you a ring if you ask nicely. :)
They will for £20. That's fine, hope it works though. Suddenly buying the whole hub for £200 seems not such a bad idea!!!
 
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matthew k

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They guys who did it have done literally hundreds of W211, they're very popular with taxi drivers. I've heard (since I ordered it) that the Febi bearings can cause this?
 

onefortheroad

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I used lucas and had a mare...
 

onefortheroad

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They guys who did it have done literally hundreds of W211, they're very popular with taxi drivers. I've heard (since I ordered it) that the Febi bearings can cause this?

Shirley if they have done hundreds they'd of come across febi bearings by now or at least inform you of which to buy ??
 
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matthew k

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Shirley if they have done hundreds they'd of come across febi bearings by now or at least inform you of which to buy ??
It's a good point, but they're honesty decent mechanics. I wonder if the seal has been driven in too far if it would be possible to prise it out a bit without removing the hub/damaging it?

It seems a bit of a crappy design, why not just have a track disc on the outside like the C Class?
 

onefortheroad

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Doubt you'll pry it without hurting it tbh. Why would they have tapped it too far if they've done 100's ..

I used a piece of 2x2 it stops flush with the hub.
 

onefortheroad

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Are you sure you didn't have a go and messed it up. :)
 
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matthew k

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I've just jacked the car up, the wheel spins freely with no intermittent binding, I'm sure the races have been seated correctly. TBH they're not going to stich me up, they'll fit the genuine MB seal with no hassel. I'm just worried what I'll do if that doesn't sort it out.
 
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matthew k

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Are you sure you didn't have a go and messed it up. :)
No way!!!!!! I'd be honest if I had, why lie, it's my car!? There's no way I'd get involved in hacking out old races etc, can't be bothered. I know what you mean though, I'd have probably asked the same thing!!

Having said all that, there's too much play, you can see the wheel moving slightly when you rock it. So it's not adjusted correctly.
 

onefortheroad

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I've just jacked the car up, the wheel spins freely with no intermittent binding, I'm sure the races have been seated correctly. TBH they're not going to stich me up, they'll fit the genuine MB seal with no hassel. I'm just worried what I'll do if that doesn't sort it out.

2 choices . Buy a mb bearing kit with seal ... and try again or buy a complete hub .
 
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matthew k

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I tightened the hub, it hasn't helped tbh. But it's stopped a vibration that developed at 70 mph. The green grease around the spindle had already started turning dark grey., is that normal? I'm going to try and reseal it, failing that I'll buy one of those Mapco hubs. How difficult is it to remove the caliper, I know to unplug the SBC unit. If I can't get it booked in I'll try it myself.
 


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