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  #1  
Old 03-11-2007, 01:08 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: the great northwest
Posts: 257
HARDER to turn LEFT than RIGHT- issues with STEERING

hey y'all-
i've had some issues power steering since i bought my 300TD a few weeks ago...
one shop that checked it out pre-purchase said that there was probably a spring broken inside the steering box that made it much harder to turn the wheel to the left than to the right.
the next day, a shop that checked it out post-purchase said no, it just has a bad power steering pump.
WELL,
i changed out the power steering pump yesterday, and now i've definitely GOT power steering, but whew, there's still a lot more resistance when trying to turn left.
anybody out there that can point out what's wrong, and how i go about fixing it?

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'83 300CDT (286k)

former proud owner of:
'85 mercedes euro 300TD
'80 mercedes 300TD
'77 mercedes 280e
'80 mercedes euro 250
'82 mercedes euro 250
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  #2  
Old 03-11-2007, 01:14 PM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
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Yeah I looked at a 300D that had the same problem. You need to replace the steering box, about $600 for a rebuild. The owner and I were going to split it 50/50, but I didn't buy the car.
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  #3  
Old 03-11-2007, 01:16 PM
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I would adjust the steering box to see if it is any better. At the top of the box is a jamb nut and allen bolt. Loosen the jamb nut and turn the allen bolt clockwise just a 1/8th of a turn. Clockwise loosens the pretension, counterclockwise tightens the tension. I'm hoping someone adjusted it too tight? did you replace the steering fluid filter in the pump? It could be restricted?
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  #4  
Old 03-13-2007, 10:55 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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well, did as carnut advised, without much luck:

turned that allen bolt 1/8th turn without any noticable effect on steering, so i went ahead and turned it another 1/4 turn, and steering seemed to get much "sloppier" (more play in the wheel?) but still is much harder to turn left than right.

it feels like i have NO power steering on the left turns...
i did put a new filter in the pump when i did the swap, so i'm guessing the pump's not restricted, which leads me to ask:

am i out of options?
do i need a new steering box?
and if so, anybody out there got advice?

after reading people's previous posts, it sounds like the job might be a bit over my head (though it may be that i HAVE to do it myself, depending on how much a mechanic would want for the labor...).

i've got someone here locally willing to sell me the steering box out of a car for $100, but would that be stupid, as i don't know it's condition? or would it be well worth it, and make the job easier if i could just unbolt/plug-and-play using their pitman arm and whatnot, and not have to get into quite as much work as trying to install a rebuilt one?

sounds like the job calls for a bunch of tools i don't have...36mm socket, pitman arm puller, impact wrench, etc, ...but if y'all think it's really "do-able" i'd LOVE to hear about it...
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-lee
'83 300CDT (286k)

former proud owner of:
'85 mercedes euro 300TD
'80 mercedes 300TD
'77 mercedes 280e
'80 mercedes euro 250
'82 mercedes euro 250

Last edited by blankenship; 03-13-2007 at 11:13 PM.
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  #5  
Old 03-13-2007, 11:12 PM
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Location: Stockton California
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Well, we tried! Yes the steering box is relatively straightforward, but it is very heavy so a floor jack must be under it to lower away from chassis. When I did mine, I loosened the flex coupler at the upper end of the box by removing both bolts and slid it up the steering shaft to have a gap between the column and box. Then used a 1/2 inch drive socket on the three bolts holding it to the frame after removing the left front wheel. I used an air wrench to break them free, then a regular ratchet to remove them slowly. Make sure the steering wheel is straight prior to loosening anything! I disconnected the pitman arm from the track rod using a pickle fork and large hammer. So the box came out with the pitman arm attached. I went to the local pick n pull and found a perfectly dry non leaking box with minimal play. At the wrecking yard I used the 1/2 in. drive ratchet with a piece of pipe over it for leverage to loosen the attaching bolts. Make sure you center the pitman arm on the new box prior to reinstall by manually turning the pitman arm max left then max right then to center on the work bench. It will be messy! Raise the new box with the floor jack and be careful! this box will want to fall off the jack! MAKE SURE THE CAR IS SAFELY ON JACK STANDS!
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  #6  
Old 03-13-2007, 11:59 PM
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This is probably a dumb question, and certainly a long shot, but did you try disconnecting the steering dampner and then see how the steering works?
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  #7  
Old 03-14-2007, 08:12 AM
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On MB steering boxes there is a "proportioning" valve that allows the same amount of steering pressure in both directions. When you are having that type of problem that valve is the cause.

Most likely a broken spring.. get a different box.

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