On the W116, there are no bolts and boot at the firewall. It's fairly straightforward and "reasonably" accessable. You probably need to remove the switch, or at least unscrew it from the column and let it dangle.

I am thinking of offering a rebuild service on the 116 couplers. I have everything here to bush them as described in my post. They retail for about $75.00 online. I was thinking about $25.00 parts and labour, cleaned, repainted and bushed with all new hardware. What do you think????

Probably far better quality than the one you can get today for a third of the price. Sounds good, but I don't know how much of a market you would have between W116 and R107 owners. Actually, there probably are quite a few R107s running around that need these. Did they use them on W108 and W115/4s?

I think 107, 115 and 116 only, but I am not 100% sure.

Does this tighten the steering at all?

I really like write-ups like this, especially when there is attention to detail. I've got a W116 300SD, so this applies to my car.

Yes. TIghtened movement around the circumference and up and down in the steering shaft. How much would depend on how much your coupler is worn. You can tell be having someone turn the wheel while you observe and feel the coupler. Also pulling up on the steering wheel can indicate a worn coupler--at least it did in my case.

The point of the rubber is part of the safety system in an accident, allows it to break free.

I disagree- the way this coupler is constructed is not going to have any effect in an accident, except perhaps one in which the front end of your car is sheared off from the side. Then, it's really not going to matter. The rubber is in there basically to isolate/damp vibrations to the steering wheel.

The safety system in the W116 is in the collapsible telescoping column and having most of the steering mechanism behind the wheels

X2

Stock couplers are made to break,so you won't be impaled thru the chest with steering colum.

I remember I had an issue with that coupler as well, back when I had that '79 280SE. In fact, because of it, I got to buy the car real cheap, since the previous owner went to a jercky mechanic who diagnosed a defective steering gearbox at a cost factor of high triple digits!!

I had the coupler replaced for $25 in less than 1/2 hour back then and the car steered swell. :)

I agree, the rubber serves the dampening of vibration, but also, they know the rubber will deteriorate during the car's life and the coupler will need replacement.
Esp, when you think Germany where the TUV inspects your vehicle every 2 years, they will pickup on the slightest play and require you to have your car serviced in order to give you the new 2 year sticker on the plate.

For any 'offical' garage this is a nice triple digit job with lots of fear to implement to the unknowing customer. After all, it's your sterring, right? :eek:

I think the OP did a real nice job refurbishing that coupler, it should be very solid and save. If you do it for someone else, have them sign a liability waiver. Just saying. ;)

Here is something I meant to extend to you since quite a while. It maybe personal, but also, I think of public value. So, I do it this way.

You state your car is a "Geldgrube".

Now, I assume this is derived from "moneypit". We all know, a moneypit is a hole we throw money in, never to be seen again.

A 'Geldgrube', while appearing to be a straight forward translation into German, is infact the opposite, pretty much in the sense of a "Goldmine".
So, unless your car renders near infinite supplies of money, you chose the wrong word.

Geldgrube = Goldmine

moneypit = ???

Germans don't have moneypits. At least I wouldn't know of a word that describes such a thing. What they do have is "barrels without bottoms", "Fass ohne Boden"

On the 116, the two sections of the steering shaft are almost touching each other. A broken coupler would only allow the shaft to move downwards a few millimeters, not enough to make a difference.

Steering shaft bushing wear has been a problem on some mercedes over the years. I do not know if the 123 and 126 have this difficulty but perhaps they should be inspected for slop as well.