I have an 1981 300D that has started having some power steering problems. No leaks, the fluid is at the right level and seems to be moving through ok. The problem is that I am getting a "ping" that has been there for a while but I always assumed it was the engine dieseling. Apparently, the engine's not the culprit. It appears to be coming from the PS pump area. I also notice some serious shaking/wobbling at the PS pump and pulley when the engine is idling. When I turn the wheel to it's extremes I get some stoppage near it's limits. There is some resistance and then it goes on through. What's going on? I don't have any PS whine that I have heard on other cars in the past. There is just some shaking/wobbling of the PS pump pulley, a pinging sound coming from the same area and some resistance in the steering at it's limits.

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1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.

Have you changed the filter recently? What color is the fluid?

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Check all three 13mm bolts and nuts that hold the pump on, shouldn't be any "shaking/wobbling at the PS pump and pulley"

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1985 Euro 300TD 5 spd 220K
1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 130K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I changed the filter about four months ago. I should have changed the fluid at that time but I didn't. I was/is dark and cloudy.

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1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.

The pulley itself is wobbling on the shaft. I tried to tighten the bolt but it won't tighten any further. The shaft turns with the nut. It either didn't ever have any more threads or the wobbling has worn them off.

I did a valve adjustment about a month ago and I turned the engine over with the PS pump bolt. No problems at that time. I have noticed some "heavy" steering lately during everyday driving also.

I don't get it.

Could I have tightened the belt too tight?

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1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.

The pump was bad.

I replaced it today and everything works correctly.

I guess the strain of a bad pump versus the engine stripped the pulley from whatever held it to the shaft.

Damnedest thing.

First time for everything, I guess.

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1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.

The pump was bad.

I replaced it today and everything works correctly.

I guess the strain of a bad pump versus the engine stripped the pulley from whatever held it to the shaft.

Damnedest thing.

First time for everything I guess.

__________________
1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.