Mercedes-Benz W164 driveshaft support bearing failure: symptoms and replacement

A typical symptom is vibration or knocking while driving when the rubber of the support bearing has torn or come loose. If the car rumbles, check both the bearing rubber and the driveshaft universal joints, since either one can be faulty.

Answers vary: some say the bearing is fixed in its bracket and the whole bracket is replaced, others say the bearing can be replaced separately. With a separate replacement the driveshaft must be balanced, otherwise it vibrates. Have the work done by a workshop experienced with driveshafts.

The driveshaft sits tightly at the transmission end and removal can damage parts. Removing the grease cap of the constant velocity joint and fitting the joint can be awkward. That is why the work is best left to an experienced workshop.