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  #1  
Old 10-11-2006, 04:14 PM
Tim Mohler
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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New-to-me 87 300SD, play in steering

Hi all, I recently bought a 1987 300SD wagon with 170,000 miles. It's in great shape, no rust, everything except the tach works. It's my first MB, and I'm really enjoying the car overall. I took it on a 100-mile drive this past weekend and I noticed that it seems to wander a little in the lane at high speeds (above 60) and the steering wheel shakes some. It feels like there's just some wear and play in the steering. What I should be expecting in terms of the steering on a car of this age - should I ask a mechanic to look into it? What sorts of problems are common? Thanks for any help Tim


Last edited by tmohler; 10-11-2006 at 04:14 PM. Reason: typo in title
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Old 10-11-2006, 04:37 PM
dannym's Avatar
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You test steering wheel play at the wheel with the car idling. select a spot and move the wheel until you just feel resistance at both ends. Max play is a little less than 1 inch.

It sounds to me like you have an alignment problem or worn front suspension parts. Or possibly both.
Worn parts could be tie rod ends, ball joints, upper control arms, lower control arm bushings, center link, track rod bushings, steering damper.......

Danny
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  #3  
Old 10-11-2006, 05:17 PM
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You could also have wheels out of balance for the shaking.

Have the wheels balanced, and then go on a short run, and then check the suspension, bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, steering damper, etc.

For the wandering, have the alignment chacked. At that point the technician will check the suspension, and tell you what needs replacing. Get a quote, and then get all the parts and DYI all that you can.
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  #4  
Old 10-11-2006, 05:23 PM
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There is no such vehicle as an '87 SD wagon.

Are you sure you don't have a '87 300D wagon..........the W124 body??
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  #5  
Old 10-11-2006, 05:51 PM
Tim Mohler
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 34
Anyone know how to put line breaks in between paragraphs on this forum? My text is all running together. . . I'm absolutely new to Mercedes's so I don't have the numbering down.

It's a 300D wagon with a turbo. I thought that made it an SD, maybe it's called TD instead?

Anyways, I've gone through the maintenance records from the prior owners and some front suspension work has been done a couple years back (bushings and bearings), but no alignment since 2004. I need to get an oil change anyways, so I'll see what an alignment and wheel balance does. It seems from reading other threads that these cars should be pretty steady at high speeds? I'm more used to entry-level Japanese cards. They always shake at 80MPH. There's definitely more than an inch of play when moving the wheel from the center position. Also, the wheel sits a little crooked - cocked maybe 2 inches to the right. The PO says it's been that way for as long as he owned it, which is 3 years.

Thanks,

Tim

Last edited by Brian Carlton; 10-11-2006 at 05:56 PM.
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  #6  
Old 10-11-2006, 05:57 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Blue Point, NY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmohler View Post
Anyone know how to put line breaks in between paragraphs on this forum? My text is all running together. . . I'm absolutely new to Mercedes's so I don't have the numbering down.

It's a 300D wagon with a turbo. I thought that made it an SD, maybe it's called TD instead?

Anyways, I've gone through the maintenance records from the prior owners and some front suspension work has been done a couple years back (bushings and bearings), but no alignment since 2004. I need to get an oil change anyways, so I'll see what an alignment and wheel balance does. It seems from reading other threads that these cars should be pretty steady at high speeds? I'm more used to entry-level Japanese cards. They always shake at 80MPH. There's definitely more than an inch of play when moving the wheel from the center position. Also, the wheel sits a little crooked - cocked maybe 2 inches to the right. The PO says it's been that way for as long as he owned it, which is 3 years.

Thanks,

Tim
Just hit the "enter" key. Presto. New paragraph.

Yep, 300TD it is.

The fellows familiar with the W124 will help 'ya.
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  #7  
Old 10-11-2006, 07:31 PM
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Location: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
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The steering wheel is probably off center because the last alignment was done by a shop that didn't have the special tools to do a Mercedes properly. There is a bolt to lock the steering in the center position so that you cannot get the steering wheel off center. Your car also probably calls for the spreader bar for the front wheels when doing an alignment. Most tire shops have neither.

Len

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