My 80 300D W123 body car (no turbo) steers easily and
is really a no-effort car to drive, even throttle is low effort.
Super easy to turn steering wheel.

My 83 300SD W126 car takes more effort to turn the wheel.
I am actually tired after driving home. Not like manual steering,
buy way harder than the 300D.

Any ideas ? I have read about fuild changes .
I do have a new Power Steering pump filter to install if needed.
Pump is full, no leaks.

__________________
80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

Funny to see this post. My 80 wagon could be steered with the little finger of either hand. The 85 takes way more effort to turn the steering wheel. I think I remember reading that there is an adjustment screw on the steering box that takes out some slop, and maybe this makes it harder to turn.
Am I confusing that with something else?

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I have wondered that too.

Just tonight I tightened the 300D sterring box. It was on the test drive
that I realized how easy it turns.

I am reluctant to loosen the 300SD steering box, I like the play
where it is.

__________________
80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

injecting some grease into the ball joints and checking the air pressure for underinflation.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Steering pump perhaps? I've changed steering pumps on cars that steer hard and it made all the difference in the world.

I notice the same thing.

Steering effort is quite a bit higher on my 300D compared to my 240D. Both are 84's, both running the same tires and pressure.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

I will go after some grease in all the joints.
Somebody took a strong steam cleaner to this car and did wash out
grease and create dry joints in other places.

I do have a spare pump I could try. Then do the filter and fluid change.

The fluid in there now smells like varnish, I think it is done.

__________________
80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

Make sure your steering dampner is not bound up. Remove it and see if that makes a difference. HTH Mike

Don't forget that the 126 is MUCH heavier than the 123. There are probably some internal valving differences, but I am just guessing.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Not that much difference. The W123 (300D) is 3515 ibs., the W126 is between 3625 (SD) and 3850 lbs. (SDL). That's less than one mother-in-law of difference.

My SDs are worlds apart. The 84 is pretty tight with a lot of effort to run and the 85 is a finger turner. Personally I kind of like them in the middle...

The 85 feels a little loose to me especially when you climb into it after driving the 84.

Any body know if the SD steering box is the same as the 123 steering box? On the 123 you turn counterclockwise to tighten.
Thanks

__________________
'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

me that i read here that they are in fact the same box.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.