Rear Wheel Bearings? - Same PN?

[bpossel]

Who has replaced their rear wheel bearings lately?

Per several of our suppliers, they are now indicating that both sides use the same bearing, same part number... (and have sold the same bearing for both sides for years...)

I thought that the right and left side were different bearings?  Per the Classic Center, the right rear part # is 000 981 0506 and the left rear is 008 981 4225.. If buy from MB directly, they sell 2 different bearings...

Help!
Thanks,
Bob

bpossel
Memphis, TN.
1971 280SL
1997 E320

[Vince Canepa]

The left and right bearings are different.  This has been discussed before.  The right side bearing is a spherical roller bearing due to the deflection that occurs between the axle shaft and the axle tube (on the right side only).  This site gives a nice description of the issue (look for the box with the picture of a axle shaft/bearing and a big "I"):  http://213.239.220.84/bin/dbframes.phtml?mid=IN02

I used the proper bearings when I did mine last summer.  The right side bearing is pricey.  Many of the suppliers have been spreading the wrong info about these bearings for years.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[Benz Dr.]

That's because the the RT bearing is exspensive and hard to find. The ordinary bearing will work, just not as well. Since you can get the LT side bearing almost anywhere many places sell it instead and most people never know the difference.
 I've always known they're different and won't use the cheaper one on the RT side.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061

[domingo_santo]

I am doing mines too. What I found is interesting, it had intalled two spherical instead of one.  Being a mechanical oriented guy I should fix to use standard on left and spherical on Right.
Joe Alexander instructions on previous forum recall this as first an important issue.

Regards.

Juan Tomas Santos
Dominican Republic
1982 911SC
1972 350SL
1969 280SL

[hands_aus]

The RHS bearing is a FAG 2028

They were available locally but I bought the genuine MB part.
When I took it out of the MB box there on the bearing was FAG 2028

Caliber was selling them about 2 years ago for USD $109.06

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[bpossel]

Thanks All!

I will install mine the correct way, spherical roller bearing for the right side and a standard bearing on the left (both from MB).  These cars deserve to be correct!

Once all the parts arrive and do this job, will post updates...
Bob

bpossel
Memphis, TN.
1971 280SL
1997 E320

[domingo_santo]

Bob,
Looking at my axle I noted the Fag no. is 20208 rather than 2028 as a previous post noted.

Juan Tomas Santos
Dominican Republic
1982 911SC
1972 350SL
1969 280SL

[hands_aus]

Juan,

Thanks for correcting the error.



Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto