Do I need a new steering box? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

EdmondsAve · #1 06-05-2007, 12:16 AM

I took my car to get the suspension looked at before I made a road trip, and the guys said everything looked fine, cept my steering box was loose and needed to be replaced. A few days later, however, I found that my CV axles were almost shot, and when I replaced them, I noticed all my bushings were going to crap too.

I had bought used tires for the front (shut up, im a poor college kid), and come to find out, they had flat spots, and at certain speeds (45-55) it would sometimes start to shake back and forth violently, and wouldnt stop til i hit the brakes. When I inspected the tires, the spots werent real bad, but just to be safe, I rotated the tires, and the problem went away....or so I thought. Now it rides fine at those speeds, but around 65 and 70, when I hit a rouch spot in the interstate, it does it again. I might add that my steering has about 2 inches of deadness (from what I measured from TDC on the steering wheel, it moved about an inch to either side before the wheels themselves started to turn). So is this the problem? If so, how hard/expensive is it to replace?

Thanks!

-Ed

The Gears · #2 06-05-2007, 03:05 AM

The slack in the steering box can easly be taken up. Look for the locking nut and hex bolt on the top of the box. The bolt is turned counter clockwise to take out slack. Undo the nut with a socket and 12" extention. Hold with a flat wrench or crows foot then turn back the bolt with an allen wrench. Half turn then tighten the nut and wiggle the steering wheel and watch the front wheel to react to the movement. Continue half turn at a time till it feels right. You need a little friction in the box. On a flat road, back the car up and turn the wheel hard over then move ahead. The wheel should freely come to center or very close to center. If not you are too tight. Come back one quarter turn. CW

Ara T. · #3 06-05-2007, 03:43 AM

Your suspension probably just has a lot of slop in it. I'd fix that before messing with the steering box, because if you fix the suspension AFTER tightening the box you might find your steering is binding and unnaturally stiff.

t walgamuth · #4 06-05-2007, 05:59 AM

the 2" is not severe but i would not hesitate to go ahead and adjust the steering box.

be sure to turn the adjusting screw anticlockwise. go til it begins to bind then back off till it is free again.

a little play wont hurt anything.

again 2" is not too bad.

tom w

Tymbrymi · #5 06-05-2007, 09:40 AM

What year and model car are you talking about? How many miles are on the car, etc? You may want to consider putting that info in your signature so you don't have to retype it

The older MBs (W116, W126, W123) have to have about 1" of play in the steering or you will bind the steering box (more than 1" you can adjust out). With some of the "newer" cars (W124, W201, etc) I think it is much less than that. The Gears' advice on how to adjust the gearbox is excellent, especially the part about the steering wheel returning to center!

Personally I'd get another set of used tires or some new ones before I'd go on a roadtrip. I'm not sure that hard spots would cause the car to go back and forth ... I think that it would cause a vibration more than that. I've never had many tire problems so can't help much there. Other than violent anything at 70MPH is bad

barry123400 · #6 06-05-2007, 11:26 AM

If the rubber bushings are in terrible shape at the back end. You did mention some bushings were bad? Car might be rear steering a little as well making it seem worse than just a loose steering box. Until you have owned a car that bad steers because of a rear end bushing problem you cannot really appreciate it. Not just a mercedes problem by any stretch of the imagination either.

JimZ · #7 06-05-2007, 12:53 PM

I adjusted the lock nut to tighten my steering about a year ago. It definitely worked, but over the last couple months it's developed a sort of grinding noise when I turn left. Not really grinding, more like groaning -- like it needs to be greased up. I checked the power steering fluid and it's good. Anyone know what would be causing the noise?

barry123400 · #8 06-05-2007, 01:08 PM

Have someone turn the wheel from lock to lock while you listen near the steering box. If it is coming from it and can be identified positively as such I would get another steering box.
It will not get better or heal itself. Also will not be any way for you to know if it will become a real safety issue at some point.

Stevo · #9 06-05-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdmondsAve

I might add that my steering has about 2 inches of deadness (from what I measured from TDC on the steering wheel, it moved about an inch to either side before the wheels themselves started to turn). So is this the problem? If so, how hard/expensive is it to replace?

Thanks!

-Ed

The "book" says about an inch of play, but it sounds like you have more going on than tightning the steering box will cure. but thats a good place too start.