Front wheel bearing caps

[BCDC]

I have been working through as many jobs as I can with my fairly recently acquired W116 and I got to the wheel bearing inspection and found that the caps were completely free of grease which is the opposite of what I think they should be or at least on every other vehicle I have owned. Also the cap looks like it has never been full. Surely the caps need to be full of grease, correct me if I'm wrong? Also what is the copper tag protruding from the fastening clamp? Help

BC

[UTn_boy]

The hub caps aren't supposed to be "full" of grease, but have just a little in them.  As long as there is grease in the middle of the hub between the two bearings and in the actual bearings you'll be ok.   

The copper spring is supposed to be a grounding noise suppressor for the radio, but over the years there have been several other assumed functions of it.  I can't compete with what the majority thinks, so take any of what you read about it with a grain of salt. haha

[Diesel 617]

The Factory Service manual states the exact amount (in grams) of grease there should be in the cap as well as used in re assembly.  UTN is correct about the copper from what I have read.