Change your power steering filter
 

I've heard our MB's have a filter for the power steering pump but I could never find it until yesterday. I was draining out the fluid from the pump and I saw in the bottom of the reservoir something that could be removed. As I removed the the nut that holds down a plastic spring retainer from the center shaft that is in the center of the reservoir. I found the filter right underneath it. I would have never known it was there and mine never looked like it was ever changed. Now all I have to do is get a new one. I bet many of you have never known that there was a filter. It'll probably be a good idea to change and purge out your old fluid as well.

Wait a GD minute.........
 

You've been hanging around here for two years and you didn't know there was a power steering filter???

Who you kiddin? :D :D

Yes it has a filter. If it has never been changed then it is a porous ring, not a fiber filter with metal plates on the top and bottom.

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1G70RZAS31G70RZFF6&year=1982&make=MB&model=300-TDT-001&category=M&part=P%2FS+Filter

The old filter was in my 300TD. But the ring is washable and as long as it is sound, it can be reused. I personally feel the new filter is better. Why? it just seems to be a filter that will trap finer particles. My opinion.
While doing this a turkey baister(sp?) is good for removing as much fluid as possible ( buy your own or the wife will have your head, if she finds out). Then disconnect the return line, this is low pressure, and start the engine, allowing the waste fluid to run off into a container. Continue to fill the reserviour while your assistant is rotating the wheel from stop to stop. when the fluid is clean, coming out of the return line. You now have fresh fluid in the system. If the interior of the pump reservior is coated with a brownish film the fluid was not changed very often. Change the fluid and then change it again in about 2 weeks. The nwe fluid will dissolve the majority of the film. since I was rebuilding my pump I used sovents to completely clean my reservior.
Now the big debate is wether to use ATF fluid or power steering fluid. Do a search on this. It has been discussed to death. I personally use ATF, Why? all the seals on the steering box are used to the ATF in my car. Changing fluids can sometimes cause swelling or shrinking of the seals which can cause leaks, My 2 cents.

Dave

Oh I've known about it but I found out about by accident buy browsing ebay sometime ago but I've never seen anything about it in any thread over here. I found the filter in the reservoir quite by accident, I would have never known it was where it was in the reservoir.


I guess mine had been changed before because it was the metal sandwich with the fiber filter. I like using a large syringe with surgical tubing for extracting fluids, works great, may be hard to come by if you're not in the medical industry though.
I don't dare borrow any of my wife's kitchen utensils for any automotive project lest I want to deal with her wrath. :eek:

liet,

Its been posted here that after replacing the filter and fluid, the pump started to leak.

I think its better to leave well enough alone. If it ain't broke. don't fix it.

Mine has 260,000+ miles and is 25 years old and I'm not about to replace the filter or change the fluid.

P E H

PEH,

I'm sort of with you on this matter but the only reason I needed to change the fluid is that I am in process of replacing the steering box in my 230 and the fluid I drained from the system was dark and murky and the filter looks like its ready to fall apart. There was also lots of brown build up inside the reservoir. I could only imagine what it looks like in my 300D but all I've done is made sure is that the fluid is up to the right level.
I will have some news on the process of replacing the steering box in an upcoming thread.

PE you never change anything till it's broke- is your TV from the late 70's also? Do you dial your phone with a rotary motion?
Sorry- I'm with you on alot of this stuff, but had to BYB ;)

Yep their is a filter in thier, I have changed mine a few times. My PS fluid was pretty dirty. MB fluid stopped my pump from making noise on cold mornings.

Hey don't B PE's B's, I use two cans and a string for my phone and look out the window for my entertainment. :P ;)

No, they both broke ;) and were replaced. Funny how when the wife wants a new one, the old one just happens to break ;)

Power Steering Fluid
 

Is there gold in MB power steering fluid? After reading several posts in here I decided that I must need genuine MB fluid so off to New Country Motors I went. THe bottle of fluid was $13.25! I had just come from Autozone where they had a variety of PS fluids, though none said anything about mercedes.
Is it really that good?
On another note, I needed a battery for my 99 E300D, the dealer wanted $245, I checked consumer reports and bought one at Autozone for $65 that is a perfect fit.

The dealer is ripping you off on the battery, an OE battery should run about $110-$120. As to the fluid I paid just under $12 a quart.

That dealer is DEFINITLY ripping you off by charging at least double.

Anybody in MD/DE/VA that wants a Mercedes battery I have a stockpile of them here, all you have to do is make the trip ;)

I use the regular PS fluid found at most parts stores for $2.00/qt. Works just fine.

Geez, I paid $90 for my battery and thought I got robbed!