steering box adjustment, forum help

[BIG RON 2]

I noticed a small fluid leak around the steering adjuster on my brand new 1984 300sd when taking a little play out of my steering. Thought it would be gone after adjusting and a good tighting of the lock nut, but the leak is still there. Is there an easy fix ,sealer or gasket or something, to stop the leak? Adjusted my other Benz ( 1982 240D) years ago with no problem. Any help appreaciated!

[t walgamuth]

I've never had this trouble. Are you sure its not coming from another location?

[Ozarkdude]

The biggest issue one can run into is if the gears are heavily worn on center. Imagine the gears are no longer completely round, but have a flat spot on center. If you then get too tight an adjustment on the gears, it be tight off center or will want to push toward center, in either case making the car prone to wandering on center and more or less not inspiring confidence. There isnt really anyway to compensate for that type of wear other than backing off the adjustment until it becomes benign. Better to put up with some excess play in the wheel than having the gear binding up.

Our 380 SL was like that, and the adjustment was very difficult to reach and change. I think I must have tweaked it back and forth 100 times but was never happy.

That gear also had a leaking upper shaft seal and the pitman shaft was wet but not dripping and the dealer didnt offer any seals, only a complete gear for $$$$$. A guy at O'Rielly found me a steering gear seal kit for something like $25. Just a plastic bag full of little rubber parts but it had every seal and oring you could imagine and I was able to seal the gear up and stop the drips. And while it was out I played around with the adjustment with it clamped in a vise until I could live with it. Worn as it was, I think I had less than 1/16 of a turn on the adjustment between too sloppy and too tight. It really needed another gear installed. Funny too as it only had 100K on it, as far as it showed.

[BIG RON 2]

After making the adjustment the steering is very good, the minor leak is the only problem. I drove 50 miles last night and the fluid dropped about 1/8". Leak is definatly at the adjuster. Can I take the lock nut off, place a gasket on the adjuster, and simply tighten down the adjuster, or will something fly out of , or become loose in the box. It looks like an easy fix if I can remove the lock nut without doing any damage elsewhere. Can I take the lock nut off and place home made gasket under it or can I seal off the leak somehow? Thanks! By the way, this is my first postings on the forum. I generally can search ,and find, answers to any ofmy questions. Thanks again!

[Ozarkdude]

I would clean the stud and around the gear where the lock nut sits with lacquer thinner, and apply a small amount of black rtv to the bottom of the threads. Let it set up completely before you start the engine.

[BIG RON 2]

Thanks for your reply. But I still don't know if I can take the locknut completely off the adjuster to seal it properly. Thanks again!

[Ozarkdude]

You can remove the nut. The stud wont come out, it screws in from inside. The pitman gear is hanging on it, and as you turn it out it draws (pulls) the gear up into the other gear, removing the backlash.

[BIG RON 2]

Thanks OZ. That's what I was hoping.

[SD300]

have owned several 123, a few seems to have play in steering.
current one cant take slack otu at all, i think is done!

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The steering box on a 123 is an incredibly durable device.