Does the steering box need to be removed to replace the coupling on the W116 SD?

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No. IMO, much better to loosen coupler, remove steering wheel, loosen bolts under it ,pull up shaft to get clearance to remove coupler. I don't remember all the steps. There was a recent thread on the SL forum that outlined it better on W107s, but W116s are similar.

And , I just ground off the rivets on one of my old couplers, rebushed with rubber hose, inserted grade 8 bolts with lots of locktite and reused.

Rick

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