For those of you planning on swapping the wheels yourself... - Benzworld.org

01-09-2002, 02:24 AM

Don't try it unless you have a wheel hanger. Since this seems to be the first MB vehicle for many of you, you should know that the ML (and all other MB vehicles) have a hub centric design. This means that the wheel's center bore fits the hub exactly) This ensurs a precise fit and smooth ride (i.e. at very high speeds). Cheaper wheels (ex. domestic vehicles, many Japanese vehicles) are lug centric (centered by the lugs) to accommodate more models with the same wheel. These are generally rough at higher speeds. Hub-centric: <img src='http://www.ultimategarage.com/WheelHgr1.JPG'> The problem with this design is that there are no lugs on which to 'hang' the wheel. Once you unscrew the lug bolts, the wheel will be unsupported and typically fall off onto the ground. When remounting, the wheel has to be absolutely perfectly aligned with the hub, or the lug bolts will not screw it at all. This is a major PITA when you're struggling with such a large and heavy wheel by yourself. A device called a wheel hanger makes things significantly easier since the wheel goes on as it came out since it is guided by the hanger. For more info, follow the link below:

01-09-2002, 02:35 AM

Absolutely Drew,I had one time really struggle to put my the wheel back on my E320. And the wheel was smaller size than the ML. Don't do it by yourself. I almost couldn't put the wheel back, and make sure you use a floor jack. The mercedes jack slipped and I was in double trouble. I learned my lesson. The only thing I wonder, if it is so difficult to put it back, what happen if we have a flat and there is no help, how do we manage without a wheel hanger Drew?

01-09-2002, 02:40 AM

Cliff, it's possible to do it yourself without a wheel hanger, as you know, but just a major PITA as I found out the first time. The other MB cars come with wheel hangers, but they seem to be made of light weight aluminum and may be too fragile to handle the ML's much larger and heavier wheels. I certainly wouldn't want to have one snap while screwed into the hub! With the Ultimate Garage's M-class wheel hanger, rotating/mounting the tires myself is absolutely not a problem. I just use a 2.5 ton hydraulic floor jack, the provided MB scissor jack and tire iron, as well as a torque wrench. I literally never leave home without the wheel hanger, as it sits in a small bag in my glovebox.

01-09-2002, 05:53 AM

I have changed my tires (from the 430 to the 55 during my ''shake'' problem) myself and rotated them myself. I also use both floor jack and ML jack and lower onto stands to keep tires just off the ground. This way, when I remove the lugs, the wheel leans slightly and touches (and holds itself) on the ground. But my ''ground'' is Belgium Block (or ''cobblestones'') which make it easy to slide the wheel off the hub without any tearing, bouncing, or racking. Removal and re-installing puts no stress on the hub or wheels. 
 
I would agree that if a I had a flat on the road that this would NOT be the method of choice as I DO NOT carry jack stands in my cars. 
 
The Wheel Hanger is a much safer and (even at twice the price) a much cheaper solution to preventing damage to components that could result in damage from a bad fit (balance and joint shake). 
 
I plan to go for the Hanger. 
 
Thanks! . . . . . . JÃ¼ri.

01-09-2002, 07:04 AM

You can get a wheel hanger from the dealer for less than $10.00 and I keep it in my glove box.And of course its alluminum not stainless maybe that why its cheaper.

01-09-2002, 08:19 AM

I was wondering if any list members might have had discussions with Ultimate Garage about special pricing for list members? Their wheel hanger looks like a good idea as part of the toolkit, but I'll bet they get a lot more business with a deal for members.

01-09-2002, 09:12 AM

that the discount was no longer active. Personally - I'm not into paying that much for a wheel hanger. I'd rather go get myself a lug bot of the same size and thread, and chop off the head. If not - I believe the aluminum wheel hanger from MB should do just fine. I don't have any doubts about it's strength - although not very heavy, aluminum is surprisingly strong.

01-09-2002, 03:16 PM

Yeah I did buy it a while ago right after he started selling them, hence there was a special price. You'll have to get a much longer lugbolt than the stock one for it to work, I think. Not sure if they make them THAT long, LOL. I'm not so sure about the wheel hanger for the MB cars (not all of them work, BTW, since the ML's lug holes are larger). I've had a look at some of them, and they're pretty thin. Fine for the stock wheels for those cars perhaps, but the ML's wheels are darn heavy! FWIW...

01-09-2002, 04:01 PM

01-09-2002, 04:04 PM

however, since they have the same lug bolt holes, the S-class ones can fit. Whether or not they can support the ML's wheels weight is something to consider though. That was the biggest issue for me since I knew that I would be keeping it long term.