Half shafts — removal and installation (Mercedes-Benz C-Class W202)

Caution! To tighten the axle nut, you need a wrench with a torque adjustable to at least 220 Nm.

Removal

1. Unscrew the axle shaft mounting nut using a twelve-sided socket wrench SW 30.

Attention! In order to avoid an accident, the car must be on its wheels, the gear must be engaged, and the parking brake must be applied.

2. Mark the position of the wheels in relation to the hub with paint. This will allow you to put the balanced wheel back in place after removal. Loosen the wheel bolts when the car is on the ground, then put the rear of the car on stands and remove the rear wheels.



3. Unscrew the half shaft (37) from the connecting flange (33). To do this, unscrew the socket head cap screws (35) (key SW 10, for example HAZET 2751 or 990 SLg 10) and remove them together with the lock washers (34).

Attention! Make sure the key is seated correctly in the bolt heads. It is advisable to clean the internal hexagons in the bolt heads beforehand.

4. Place a garage jack under the suspension arm, lift the arm until the axle shaft is approximately horizontal. Don't forget the wooden spacer between the arm and the jack.

Caution: When lifting, be careful not to lift the vehicle off the stands.

5. Extend the axle shaft, then tilt it downwards at an angle.

Caution! Make sure that the shaft cover does not unscrew when removing the axle shaft.

6. Remove the axle shaft from the hub. If it is firmly seated, use a suitable ordinary tool to press it out of the flange.



7. Remove the axle shaft, check the rubber seals and cover for leaks and damage, and repair if necessary.

Installation

1. Clean the surface between the flange and the axle cover.

2. Insert the shaft into the hub.

3. Attach the shaft to the coupling flange.

4. Install new washers and new socket head cap screws.

Caution! Lightly lubricate the threads and bolt mating surfaces beforehand. Measure the thread diameter, as this determines the tightening torque.

5. Tighten the 10 mm diameter bolts to 70 Nm in a cross pattern and the 12 mm diameter bolts to 100 Nm.

6. Lower and remove the garage jack.

7. Position the rear wheels so that the paint mark on the wheel and hub coincide. Screw the wheels on. Lower the car and tighten the wheel bolts to 110 N·m.

8. Screw the new twelve-point half shaft mounting nut into the hub and tighten to 220 Nm.

Caution: Lightly lubricate the threads and mating surface beforehand.

Attention! During this operation the car must be on its wheels. The nut is fundamentally replaced. When tightening, the parking brake must be applied and the gear engaged.

9. Pin the axle shaft mounting nut onto the flange (arrow) by driving the flange of the nut into the slot in the shaft with a punch.