Its time to overhual my 20 year old PS system.

Problems:
Major leak, either from the pressure hose or the gear box. Major as in half the fluid in the system is probably on the floor now. Happend right before I put the car away.
Pump leaking slightly, and making noise.
Lots of slop in gear box.

Before ordering a rebuilt gear box I'm going to try this:
http://www.davidpetryk.net/Mercedes/Steering.htm

I have the rebuild kit for the gear box in stock, and I already changed the return lines. If you have not add them to your parts list.

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=29701Q6Q6297022F03&year=1987&make=MB&model=300-SDL-001&category=M&part=P%2FS+Pump+Repair+Kit
For the PS pump.

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=29701Q6Q6297022F03&year=1987&make=MB&model=300-SDL-001&category=M&part=P%2FS+Pressure+Hose
Hose

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=29701Q6Q6297022F03&year=1987&make=MB&model=300-SDL-001&category=M&part=P%2FS+Filter
Filter

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=29701Q6Q6297022F03&year=1987&make=MB&model=300-SDL-001&category=M&part=Steering+Gear+Seal+Kit
Gear seal kit


I'll post pictures, but the game plan weather permitting is to remove the gear box and PS pump this weekend. Rebuild them, and re install next weekend.

One queston is should I replace the bolts that hold the gear box on? Any chance of them failing?

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I resealed mine a few months ago. There was a thread on it. I also did the PS pump and changed the hoses. I also changed the steering coupling. I followed those directions. There may be some differences between your gear box and the one in the article. Mine didn't have an extra valve in it. Besides that, it was the same. My sector gear was a bit worn, so I did the best I could on the tension adjustment.
I used a click type inch-inch pound torque wrench. It would be better to use a dial reading torque wrench. The MB instructions have a few more torque values during assembly. I used a 1/2 or maybe 3/4 extension bit on the torque wrench. This fit the steering shaft side on the coupling when tightend down.
Keep the worm gear tight against the body. It wants to spin off. Mine did and I had to find, then reinstall the ball bearings. Not real hard, but if you don't have to.
The PS pump is a bit simpler. Only caution is to notice how the vanes in the pump are installed, before you take them out. Also, notice how the internal plates go. MB manual says that the round ends of the vanes go to the outside. Both ends of mine were rounded. One end was shiny so they went to the outside. I would use an arbor press on the shaft with the back off of the pump to get the pulley off.
If you don't have an arbor press, then a large C-clamp to get the back on and off and a few raps with a hammer and the shaft. I'd put the nut on the threads and take it easy with hitting it.
Tom