87 300D steering column is complaining - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BodhiBenz1987 · #1 05-17-2009, 09:02 PM

... well, my Jeep has a stuck caliper and my 240D used its flex disc as a chew toy, so it only figures my 300D would come up with some glitch to fit in with the pack.
I had noticed a bit of "moaning" when turning the steering wheel, which I assumed was PS pump related, starting over the winter when it was very cold. Last month I did a PS fluid/filter change and it didn't really affect the sound one way or the other. It was very infrequent and quite, until this week. Now it makes a creaking/moaning whenever I turn the wheel just the slightest bit, one way or the other. From searching I see a lot of people saying it's the ball joint or tie rod (both fairly new on my car and look good). Well it really sounds like its coming from right down the steering column. Upon inspection today:
-There is a lot of black/brown goo all over the end of the pittman arm, drag link and tie rod end, but only on the pittman arm side. It's not from the tie rod boot, which looks great (it's a year old) and I'm pretty sure it's not from the drag link boot (looks solid). It might be oil that's been throw back there, which is a whole nother problem I need to address with this car (I plan to clean it, then observe ... too disgusting now to tell what's coming from where).
-The steering coupling has cracks in it.
Thoughts? It doesn't seem to be losing any P/S fluid ... the reservoir is full and nothing is landing in the driveway. Could it be the coupling? Something else on the column? Or am I maybe looking at a bad gearbox?

pawoSD · #2 05-17-2009, 11:48 PM

I usually let the dealer work on steering related stuff......but it sounds like it might be the coupling or the steering box might have a bad seal.....

BodhiBenz1987 · #3 05-18-2009, 02:27 AM

I may just end up taking it to my indy. From looking at the EPC it looks like there's about 4,000 seals on the steering gear ... I wouldn't know where to start.