Rebuilding Mercedes Front Differential

Mercedes-Benz front differential bearings may fail on vehicles equipped with 4Matic. If this does happen, it will cause horrendous noise from the front of the vehicle. The noise is most noticeable when coasting or decelerating. The noise intensifies at higher speeds. Other symptoms of a bad Mercedes front differential include.

• A howl or whine during acceleration
• Whirring noise only while decelerating is often caused by a bad pinion bearing
• Rumbling or humming noise at low speeds is often caused by worn carrier bearings.

You would think a differential would last at least 300,000 miles or more, right? Unfortunately, we have seen a few cases where a differential failed under 100k miles. 2006-2012 models, such as the ML, GL, and R class, have a higher-than-average failure rate of front differentials.

Diagnose Front Differential Issues with the YOUCANIC Scanner

If you’re experiencing a howling, whining, or rumbling noise from the front of your Mercedes-Benz, especially when coasting or decelerating, a failing front differential bearing could be the culprit. Before committing to costly repairs, the YOUCANIC Scanner can help you diagnose the issue like a pro. With dealer-level diagnostics, this powerful tool allows you to check for differential-related fault codes, monitor live sensor data, and rule out other potential issues, such as wheel bearings or drivetrain problems. Instead of relying on guesswork, the YOUCANIC Scanner gives you the insights needed to make an informed repair decision, saving you time and money on unnecessary part replacements.

Rebuilding Mercedes Front Differential

To verify the source of the noise, have a mechanic lift the vehicle on a garage lift and have the engine running. While all wheels are off the ground, place the car in Drive and get the wheels spinning. Listen for noise coming from the front differential. The noise originates from the center of the vehicle. Also described as a “rrrrrrrrrr” noise from the front end. The noise gets more noticeable when you increase the wheel’s rotational speed.

We have seen cases where a mechanic diagnoses the noise as a bad front wheel bearing. While the noise coming from a bad front differential bearing sounds similar to that of a bad differential wheel bearing, a differential bearing noise comes from the center of the vehicle.

How to rebuild the Mercedes-Benz differential

Front differential issues are common among 4Matic models and are quite common in the 2006-2012 Mercedes W164 (ML), X164 (GL), and W251 (R) classes. The differential and bearings are the same in all these models.

A Mercedes-Benz differential replacement at the dealership and auto repair shops typically runs in the $4000-$6500 range. That’s because your dealer and most shops will not repair your differentials. We have not heard of any Mercedes-Benz dealers repairing these units by changing the failed differential bearings, which are often the culprit. The good news is that you can rebuild your bad Mercedes-Benz differential if you have a few basic tools and DIY skills. The two carrier bearings frequently fail (a common problem on GL, ML, R, GLK class, and even some Jeep models) but can be easily replaced once the differential is removed.

You will need the Mercedes Differential Bearing Kit to rebuild the Mercedes-Benz front differential.

Watch this short video we posted on YOUCANIC.  We explain what needs to be replaced.

Mercedes Differential Bearing Kit

New bearings for the Mercedes-Benz front differential cost between $200 and $300 when purchased online. At the time of this posting, the dealer did not sell the bearings. The only parts you can purchase from the dealer are the seals and rubber bushings for your differential.

We recommend changing the seals and the bushings for the differential if you plan on changing the bearings. There are three seals and three bushings. Those parts can be purchased from the dealer. If they fail later, you must remove the differential, which is time-consuming.

You will need a few essential tools plus a Mercedes Differential Bearing Kit and 1L of 75W-85 synthetic gear oil.

Photo Gallery

Below, you will find a few pictures we took during this repair.

Car troubles got you down?