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#1
12-18-2010, 09:48 PM
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Steering Wheel Shake
I've got a 1980 W116 300SD with around 400,000 miles. One of the previous owner's selling points of the car I own was "Steering is A+, just had the alignment done." I've noticed that the steering wheel shakes from side to side, most noticeably at around 20 MPH when I have light sideways pressure on the wheel.
I took my car to the alignment shop (that is recommended by my local independent Mercedes repair shop) to have a front end alignment. I had tires put on recently and they checked for balance, no problem there. The shop said that my ball joints, tie rods, basically all of the front end parts look great like they were replaced recently. They also said that the alignment was way off but now it's corrected. They said that the shake is still there and that it is caused by a worn out steering box. There is quite a bit of slop in the steering box, but I am wondering if the shaking of the steering wheel would actually be caused by the power steering pump. Can a bad steering box cause the steering wheel to shake from side to side? Can I tighten the steering box? Should I suspect a bad power steering pump?
__________________
Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/ DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!  1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C 1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles 
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#3
12-18-2010, 09:57 PM
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I agree, try adjusting the steering box (but don't go too far and make it bind). I recently replaced mine because I could no longer adjust out the free play.
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#4
12-18-2010, 10:13 PM
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This is a very serious part of safely operating your car and you should not touch the steering box without studying the directions and WARNINGS in the FACTORY SHOP MANUAL...
death is possible otherwise...
__________________
1980 240d , chain elongation, cam marks reference: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html evap fin cleaning: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator A/C thread http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html
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#5
12-18-2010, 10:16 PM
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Quote:
please elaborate
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#7
12-19-2010, 12:19 AM
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For a W126, sorry, no 116 manual.
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----Adam 1985 300SD 322,000
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#8
12-19-2010, 01:22 AM
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Thanks for the responses. I have the factory service manuals, so I'll look at them and read up on the steering box adjustment.
When I'm driving straight ahead I don't notice the shake, but if I turn the wheel slightly to one side then I can feel the shaking. It is not very noticeable when I am making a hard turn. Sometimes when I'm going freeway speeds and I am turning the wheel a little it gets a bit violent but goes away once I straighten out or turn sharper.
__________________
Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/ DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES! 1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C 1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles
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#9
12-19-2010, 01:54 AM
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Quote:
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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles 1992 750il / 17k miles - project car
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#10
12-19-2010, 08:39 AM
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the WHEEL sticks when the turns are light? your alignment shop says all parts are good but the steering box... that really sounds like a combination of swaybar and shock issues.
if there is tons of slop in the steering box, cornering will take longer to get the wheel to start turning, but once the turn begins, it shouldn't move, or wiggle... the shake in the wheel means one side of the car is reacting differently than the other side, or the tires have out of round on one side or the other... with the car stopped, and the tires straight, where does the wheel point? how much turning of the wheel left before the tires follow? how much right? do BOTH tires follow exactly the same?
__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread "as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do! My drivers: 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!  1987 300TD 1987 300TD 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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#11
12-19-2010, 11:29 AM
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When the car is stopped and the wheels are straight ahead, the steering wheel is centered. There is definitely slop in the steering. Both sides seem to be the same way. It feels like a slight rocking motion. It's most noticeable when I'm going straight but correcting a little to each side.
__________________
Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/ DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES! 1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C 1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles
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#12
12-20-2010, 07:22 PM
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Wbrian63 from the W116 forum said:
"The rocking motion is likely related to the worn box. There's a valve in the steering box that provides pressure to whatever side of the steering system needs to boost the turning exercise. If the box is worn, then the parts are probably wobbling around inside, which is confusing the valve as to which direction the boost needs to come from."
__________________
Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/ DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES! 1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C 1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles
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#13
03-07-2011, 09:57 PM
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I didn't adjust the steering box since I figured it was worn out anyway. I had a spare steering box from a 1979 300SD that I installed. After all of the work to install it, I still have the steering wheel shake and it seems to have almost as much slop in it. I also changed the pump filter and installed fresh power steering fluid.
I will adjust the steering box (turning counter-clockwise to tighten, I think), then see if it makes a difference with the wheel shake. If not, then I suppose I need to buy a rebuilt steering box, unless maybe the pump has something to do with it.
__________________
Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/ DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES! 1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C 1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles
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#14
03-07-2011, 10:10 PM
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Quote:
__________________
RM Smith 1988 560SL "Where is it again that we are going, and why are we in this handbasket"?
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#15
03-07-2011, 10:12 PM
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Based on Seller's statement ?
I do not know how the steering box became the first thing to address with this symptom..
it is usually the LAST.... you need to move your front wheels to the back... and see if that makes a difference.. you need to get under your car with your hands on the tie rod ends and have someone move the steering wheel ever so slightly back and forth and see if you have any play you can feel... none is acceptable... The steering dampner is not designed to take up excess play in other parts... You also have to make sure your wheel bearings are set to factory specs...that is first before checking anything else...
__________________
1980 240d , chain elongation, cam marks reference: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414 http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html evap fin cleaning: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator A/C thread http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html
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