E300 diesel 1995 144,000 miles
I get a noise from the what sounds like the driver side rear wheel. The noise seems to be in sync with the wheel's rotation and continues in neutral. First mechanic replace the wheel bearing without effect. Second mechanic is mercedes specialist his assistant drove with me and said it was the uneven tire wear caused by improper alignment or a worn out strut. Somthing similar happend on my 190d and he even showed me how the wheel on the rear pass side was "turn in" at a slight angle to the car frame.
Then theboss drove it and he said it was the axle. He said the axle bearings where shot. Is this plausible, sounds like a BIG job.

Anybody familiar with this problem.

 

Have you tried jacking upthe left rear of the car and spinning the wheel? You may eliminate some noise locations or pinpoint it.

 

All plausible but toe in on rear should not be visibly obvious!

Sounds like the rear wheel alignment is way out if the wheel is pointing inwards and this must be due to kerb strike, component wear etc.

NOTE Toe changes with ride height on indepent suspension so can only "observe" / measure toe in at correct ride height and not on wheel free lift!

If the tyre has a NON normal wear pattern on it the noise is likely from the tyre but bearing etc. are also possible.

Start by ensuring the rear track (toe in) is correct and if not why not.

Then swap tyres about or replace if nearly worn out.

Only then move on to mechanical sources (diff, axle wheel bearings etc) of noise.

Stuart