Tremendously....

The column is collapsible, the coupler is made with huge 10mm pins, which won't break easily. Also, the shear forces in a collision are parallel to the centerline of the pins....

I drive my W116 110 miles a day (round trip) to work, so I spend a lot of time in the car and notice every little detail. My coupler uses aluminum and bronze bushings, bolted together to form a solid coupler. I have not noticed any road noise or resonance through the steering and the car is actually much smooother and quieter over bumps than with the rubber coupler.

Even with a brand new coupler, you can see deflection when the wheels are turned!!!! We proved this on my dad's W116.

The steering has a very Porsche 911 feel to it. With 10°+ caster on the LF and 10.5° + caster on the RF, the car comes back to dead-center instantly when the wheel is released. The coupler makes a huge difference in feel.

The other advantage to my coupler modification is it can be bolted in place in sections and there is a little bit of play available, in the fit between the bolts and bushings, which allows for any steering gear/column misalignment and also acts a s a fine tuner for centering your steering wheel.

A word on solid bushings and the myth that they create a rough/harsh ride....

On my 1975 Firebird Formula, I am running custom made solid aluminum body to frame bushings, core support to bumper bracket bushings and front/rear lower suspension bushings. The upper control arms have steel bushings that are greased periodically, much like many cars were in the 1950's. The car has no road noise or resonance and the ride, while firm, is very smooth.

Everyone that rides in the car express disbelief when they see the bushings.

The springs and shocks smooth out the ride, not the rubber bushings....Robert

I will offer the first person to contact me via email (from my profile) a free coupler upgrade. Send me your spare coupler (and return shipping tags) and I will clean it, paint it, fit it with bushings and ship it back to you, ready for installation with instructions on how to do it without disturbing the column.

All I ask in return is that you post your thoughts....Robert

Are these compatible with W123 steering couplings? :)

I would need to see a photo of one.....

I was under the impression that rubber was used, not to soften the ride, but to prevent vibrations from road noise to be transferred to the body.
you say there are no resonance, cool.
is there any chance that the vibrations that are there, are damaging the body on this car? I'd think that a lack of give from solid bushings would result in microfractures and such setting up in the body panels. no?

Perhaps the vibrations would damage the bearings in the steering column more quickly?

-J

We have been doing this for almost 25 years and have seen no evidence of damage, even in full-competition cars....

Cool! I'll have to take a peak at the coupler on my car.

The Firebirds/Camaros use a rubber disc to couple the steering, just like a 126. I even replace that with an aluminum disc!!!!!

Did you ever get this installed????

Bump!

My apologies to Doktor Bert. I have e-mailed him and let him know that I did in fact receive the coupler and it is on the car. It looks professional all the way and is vastly improved from the coupler I sent him. Very nicely done.
Now...as soon as I can get the car up and running, I will post back with my impressions of the piece. However, I can't imagine anyone going wrong with having the work done. It looks like a factory bit and, best of all, no more "wallowing bushes."
I am going to attempt to post pictures I took before the install.
Apologies again to Doktor Bert and a "go-ahead" to the rest of us to upgrade this coupler.