Problems replacing steering disk

[TWeatherford]

Well in an earlier thread I asked about my steering disk on the 85 300D. It is bad, so I was going to put in a replacement. I have the two bolts that hold it to the steering shaft and the power steering pump input shaft out. I then pried the disk off the power steering pump in hopes that I could get it off the steering shaft... no dice. Any hints on how to go about getting it off the steering shaft? Does the steering shaft or the power steering pump have to come out?

In the process I have broken a vacuum connection. Here is a picture, with a circle around what I broke. Anyone know what its called?

This is the vacuum hose that includes the fitting (search for Booster Vacuum Hose):

http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=&yearid=1985%40%401985&makeid=63%40%40MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40X&modelid=6193%3AED%7C10000135%3AMBC%7C1504%40%40300D&keyword=vacuum&subcatid=P:241734@@Booster%20Vacuum%20Hose&mode=PA

You don't want to know how many I've broken.

[Billybob]

Originally Posted by TWeatherford

Well in an earlier thread I asked about my steering disk on the 85 300D. It is bad, so I was going to put in a replacement. I have the two bolts that hold it to the steering shaft and the power steering pump input shaft out. I then pried the disk off the power steering pump in hopes that I could get it off the steering shaft... no dice. Any hints on how to go about getting it off the steering shaft? Does the steering shaft or the power steering pump have to come out?

In the process I have broken a vacuum connection. Here is a picture, with a circle around what I broke. Anyone know what its called?

You will likely have to drop the steering shaft from the dash in order to get enough slack to move it away from the coupling and steering gear. The bolts have to be completely removed from the coupling as there is a groove in the shafts into which they interface. You may have to spread the coupling to get it loose enough to come off the shaft also, a screwdriver in the slot and turned some usually does the trick.

As far as the vacuum line which you've broken a quick and dirty fix for that is to drill the plastic out where the bib has broken off the size of a piece of brake line. Then you can insert a section of steel brake line about 3/4" long and epoxy it around the outside, it can be a tempory fix or it can last for years!

[Palangi]

Check this out:

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123SteeringCoupling

[TWeatherford]

Wow, thank you for the replies. Just the information I needed. Hopefully I can get this all back together this weekend.