So I used the wiki writeup on steering coupling replacement. Glad I did because the old one looked like it was one sharp turn from disaster.

I thought I had made good marks with an awl on both sides of the old coupling, but I missed the boat and it was off by a nice bit. But I didn't get it out for a test drive until after my helper had left. So I thought, I how can I fix this by myself? Well, dropping the steering gear was out. That's one heavy beast.

I decided since I had the driver's knee board out and had easy access to remove the cluster, I'd just unbolt the steering column and rotate the wheel.

That did work, but what I thought was lined up while the car was up on jacks was not lined up when the weight went back down on the front-end, which has alters geometry (correct?). Wheel is still a bit off. Enough to not cancel the turn signals correctly and make it look like I'm driving a funny car.

So my question is, instead of unbolting all of this stuff again, can't I just unbolt the wheel itself, while the car is on the ground and pointed straight and reset just the wheel position?

__________________
'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

I think that if you do that on a W123 you'll end up having indicator problems - like you say - the steering wheel needs to be set just right before you attach it to the steering box as far as I know and can remember (from my reading of the FSM)

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

There is no need to drop the box again to re-align the steering coupling. You just have to remove the bolts from the coupling and you can slide it up the steering shaft on until the splined connection is free.

That's what I did on my first re-alignment attempt. I was still off after that. I guess I'll need to repeat said process again tonight.

__________________
'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

I replaced the steering gearbox on the '82 which sent the steering wheel a bit out of whack. I didn't think adjusting the wheel would do any good as its where its supposed to be on the column and the turn signal cancelers wouldn't like it.

I took it to my tire guys and had it aligned. I couldn't think of any other way.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

its really annoying, the splines are pretty fine.

a fine pointed tool / scribe really helps.

use it between the splines and up the edge of the coupling to get a good mark before re-indexing.

Well there are two considerations but the first is important.When the steering box itself is centered by design the recirulatng ball system in the box is at its least slop position. Being very slightly off the centre and correcting with tie rod adjusting is probably okay if the amount off the original centering of the steering box is very close.

I also do not know if your model steering box has centre markings. When it gets down to tweeking tie rod ends to centre the wheel unless carfully counting threads you are going to affect the toe in.

Well in your case duplicating the same proximity of the steering coupler you removed is still the best. It is what I would still try to duplicate in your situation. Carefully point the front wheels straight ahead. Jam the steering wheel in the straight ahead position. Slide the steering coupling back on and check.it may take a try or two. You may find the marks for centre on the box or they could be hidden under the pitman arm if there.

There is a Bolt/Plug in the bottom of the Steering Box and a hole on one of the moving parts inside that you can used a Locking Bolt with A cone shaped end to keep the Steering Box in the Central Position.
If the Car is going to sit overnight you need to put an O-ring on the Locking Bolt or it will dip Fluid. In my case I also put a sign on my Steering Wheel to remind me to remove the Locking bolt.
In the Pic is the Locking Bolt and the bolt used as a Plug (it also has a Copper Crush Washer)

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel