Steering GearBox For 1981 240D

[coolerelmo]

I went to Firestone today for them to check out why there was alot of play in the steering wheel.

They came back and said that the steering gearbox is bad and it needs to be replaced. They gave a price of $675.00 to rebuild the one that is in the car right now. Good price? You can buy a rebuild from this site for $557.29 Which one would be better?

How can the gearbox go bad?

[JimmyL]

I would not go to Firestone for tires! I sure wouldn't go there and expect them to know anything about my Mercedes.
Matter of fact, I wouldn't expect them to know anything about my F-150 either.
Find an Indy mechanic at least......

[t walgamuth]

have you tried to adjust it? it is about impossible to wear out a benz steering box. i have had good results adjusting them with 275k on them.

you need to loosten the 19mm lock nut then take the allen screw and turn it counterclockwise with the steering wheel straight ahead til you begin to get resisitance turning, then go back til it is free.

it will take some wd 40 to get it all free (the adjusting parts).

good luck

tom w

[coolerelmo]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

have you tried to adjust it? it is about impossible to wear out a benz steering box. i have had good results adjusting them with 275k on them.

you need to loosten the 19mm lock nut then take the allen screw and turn it counterclockwise with the steering wheel straight ahead til you begin to get resisitance turning, then go back til it is free.

it will take some wd 40 to get it all free (the adjusting parts).

good luck

tom w

I didn't know you could adjust it. I don't know if this would help. This is becuase sometimes the steering is OK, other times you have to go all the way to the right to go straight.

How could the gearbox go bad, if it did?

[barry123400]

I am not sure what you mean exactly about all the way to the right sometimes to get the car to go straight. If it does this intermittently it sounds like something is really wrong . On the otherhand it might just be your way of describing a normally sloppy steering box. If truly an intermittent problem you should not drive the car until it is fixed. How about a good used steering box from a salvage yard or ebay if you can locate one. I see no reason why the box from a 123 gas car would not be identical and perhaps easier to get a lower milage used example than from a junk 123 diesel car. Also have a look at the rear axel rubber suspension mounts. If they are in terrible condition you might get a condition something like you describe as well. It is called rear steering and is a real pain to drive with if there. If you lived in the rust belt there could be more concerns even but fortunatly you do not. Not trying to scare you but if it is not happening all the time you should not delay in finding/repairing the cause.

[sokoloff]

The steering box is probably the last thing you want to look at when trying to take slop out of the steering. Mine has never been adjusted and I've owned the car since new. Any sloppiness was always caused by something other than the box. I have heard of a number of guys who went right to the box and adjusted it and a few thousand miles later were replacing the box because they over did it.

Len
'83 240D 346,000 miles

[coolerelmo]

Originally Posted by sokoloff

The steering box is probably the last thing you want to look at when trying to take slop out of the steering. Mine has never been adjusted and I've owned the car since new. Any sloppiness was always caused by something other than the box. I have heard of a number of guys who went right to the box and adjusted it and a few thousand miles later were replacing the box because they over did it.

Len
'83 240D 346,000 miles

I have a friend who works at a GoodYear store. I'm going to take it to him next week and have him look at it. I was thinking that it was a tie-rod or something easy like it. I will give heads up when I take it to him and find out what he thinks.

[300SDog]

Nylon bushings on 123 steering boxes - thats the weak link. Retro upgrade would be steering box from 114/115 that will bolt right in. At 190k miles on my daily driver 240D parts car I've tightened the steering adjust allen bolt (counter clockwise) 3/4 turn.

[coolerelmo]

Originally Posted by 240Dog

Nylon bushings on 123 steering boxes - thats the weak link. Retro upgrade would be steering box from 114/115 that will bolt right in. At 190k miles on my daily driver 240D parts car I've tightened the steering adjust allen bolt (counter clockwise) 3/4 turn.

I'm thinking of tryng this(adjust the allen bolt). Is the bolt the one kinda of on the left side of the box? If I just do it a little will this hurt anything?

[300SDog]

Its an easy adjustment - the 8mm(?) allen surrounded by 19mm collar locknut.

1)Paint mark an edge of the allen to the gearbox casing to referrence the orignal setting.

2)Then loosen the collar nut and reset the allen at 1/4 turn increments in between test drives. Remember *counterclockwise* turn of the allen tightens the gearbox bushings, exactly the opposite of what you'd expect.

Just dont over-tighten it and you'll be fine. Make it too tight and fragile nylon bushings will self destruct. Mine is now 3/4 turn tighter then the original position at 190k miles, adjusted twice over 80k miles i've driven the car. Normal steering play should be about 6" of sway at the steering wheel.

Naturally you want to have the front suspension professionally alligned first and ask them to check for worn out tie rods, ball joints etc.

[barry123400]

Also examine the coupling device beteen the steering tube and the steering box. I have seen these in pretty bad condition on some mercedes cars. If you can grab on with a pair of vice grips close to the box on 123s You then can see if there is any play in the coupling by the presence of movement in the steering wheel.[/I]

[coolerelmo]

Originally Posted by barry123400

Also examine the coupling device beteen the steering tube and the steering box. I have seen these in pretty bad condition on some mercedes cars. If you can grab on with a pair of vice grips close to the box on 123s You then can see if there is any play in the coupling by the presence of movement in the steering wheel.[/i]

Question: If the steering box was bad, wouldn't it be hard to steer the car?
I can let the steering wheel go and it will drive straight on.

[t walgamuth]

the steering box is the last thing to go bad on a benz. please try adjusting it. also check for free play in each part related to steering the front wheels.

tom w

[coolerelmo]

Originally Posted by 240Dog

Its an easy adjustment - the 8mm(?) allen surrounded by 19mm collar locknut.

1)Paint mark an edge of the allen to the gearbox casing to referrence the orignal setting.

2)Then loosen the collar nut and reset the allen at 1/4 turn increments in between test drives. Remember *counterclockwise* turn of the allen tightens the gearbox bushings, exactly the opposite of what you'd expect.

Just dont over-tighten it and you'll be fine. Make it too tight and fragile nylon bushings will self destruct. Mine is now 3/4 turn tighter then the original position at 190k miles, adjusted twice over 80k miles i've driven the car. Normal steering play should be about 6" of sway at the steering wheel.

Naturally you want to have the front suspension professionally alligned first and ask them to check for worn out tie rods, ball joints etc.

Which why do you turn the locknut? Counterwise or Clockwise?

[300SDog]

Toss an allen wrench on the adjust nut to hold it in place and loosen the collar/locknut around it, both are normally threaded. Just dont lose track of the allen's original position paintmarked to the gearbox. Adjust the allen 1/4 turn or so (counterclockwise), retighten the collar and try it for a day or 2 - then maybe readjust again until you're happy with steering play.

Dont be scared - this method of steering adjust is idiot-proof, even i can do it. And it takes about 5 minutes.