Very Lose Steering wheel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Lenovolost · #1 04-30-2021, 01:49 AM

84 300D recently completed a front end rebuild on the car in hopes to get a firm steering wheel

Guide Rod mount
lower control arm bushings
upper control arm bushings
idle arm bushing
tie rods
drag link
steering shock absorber
ball joint

REAR
Differential mount
Subframe bushings
Tranny mount
rear shocks 20k miles bilstein

However, I still notice that the steering wheel seems to feel loose, not loose like going to fall off, but when driving it has some "Sway" and inch to the left and right. And it constantly sways back and fourth, making it feel very loose. It turns and movves fine, but while the wheel is dead center, is has this weird sway of an inch or two in each direction. When it moves in each direction, the wheels dont move, thats why it feels so loose! Adjusting the box doesn't seem to much. Flex disc? Any ideas

Thanks!

JohnLeCar · #2 04-30-2021, 02:22 AM

Have you tried a valve adjustment?
Think a compression test might be in order.

Lenovolost · #3 04-30-2021, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnLeCar

Have you tried a valve adjustment?
Think a compression test might be in order.

anyone else who is not clinically insane?

Rogviler · #4 04-30-2021, 04:02 AM

Hey, that's the standard fix for everything around here.

It's probably your steering box though. The posts after this one will be telling you not to adjust your steering box. But if you want to adjust your steering box, you loosen the nut on top, then turn the allen-headed screw counter-clockwise until the steering is tighter but not so tight that it binds up. I did that about 10 years ago to mine and haven't had an issue since.

Or you could get a new or rebuilt steering box. Just don't adjust it or the car will burst into flames.

EDIT: I saw that you did try adjusting it. You might as well go farther with trying to adjust it and if you go all the way and it's still loose then it's definitely worn out, which happens.

bkc · #5 04-30-2021, 04:08 AM

Sometimes it can be the rear end causing such symptoms. It feels like the front, but is actually the rear. Check rear shocks, rear swaybar, etc. Could be something simple.

barry12345 · #6 04-30-2021, 04:08 AM

Steering coupling? May need two people to check it out. There is always a little play in recirculating ball steering boxes. Compared to rack and pinion. Steering box could be excessivly worn as well.

Lenovolost · #7 04-30-2021, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkc

Sometimes it can be the rear end causing such symptoms. It feels like the front, but is actually the rear. Check rear shocks, rear swaybar, etc. Could be something simple.

I wasn't aware the rear end could have an effect on the steering. Il check things out in the PM

Clemson88 · #8 04-30-2021, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenovolost

anyone else who is not clinically insane?

The first thing you do is clean out the lint trap then unplug and replug the machine.

t walgamuth · #9 04-30-2021, 08:45 AM

Rogover is right in my opinion. If adjusting it did not work I bet you didn't do it correctly. The center screw must be turned anticlockwise to remove free play. I have adjusted these boxes with over 300K miles and gotten them sweet.

Diseasel300 · #10 04-30-2021, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkc

Sometimes it can be the rear end causing such symptoms. It feels like the front, but is actually the rear. Check rear shocks, rear swaybar, etc. Could be something simple.

I'll second this advice. My 560SEL had a good 2" of slop in the steering when I got it, all over the road and borderline unsafe in crosswinds at highway speed. Rebuilding the front end got it down to 1.5" or so, but when I redid the rear, it's now under an inch. No adjustment to the steering box at all. Car never wanders or weaves. Subframe bushings make a HUGE difference on how stable the car is on the road.

Alignment matters too. You want the toe as close to zero as you can get it. I've found with the 126 anyway, that positive toe (even a tiny bit) will make the car wander on a crowned or sloped road and you'll feel like you're rocking the wheel all the time.

psaboic · #11 04-30-2021, 09:38 AM

In all seriousness, if you check the rear end, just spend the money and replace the rear sway bar links. They may look ok but odds are the ball joint ends are loose and worn. They are not that expensive and are easy to remove/replace. Might want to take a look at the rear differential mount as well. Again, easy to replace.

t walgamuth · #12 04-30-2021, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

I'll second this advice. My 560SEL had a good 2" of slop in the steering when I got it, all over the road and borderline unsafe in crosswinds at highway speed. Rebuilding the front end got it down to 1.5" or so, but when I redid the rear, it's now under an inch. No adjustment to the steering box at all. Car never wanders or weaves. Subframe bushings make a HUGE difference on how stable the car is on the road.

Alignment matters too. You want the toe as close to zero as you can get it. I've found with the 126 anyway, that positive toe (even a tiny bit) will make the car wander on a crowned or sloped road and you'll feel like you're rocking the wheel all the time.

Sure, but first try adjusting the box. It's free of charge.

barry12345 · #13 04-30-2021, 10:57 AM

Typically rear end steer is detectable as you come on and off the power. The steering of the vehicle changes.

I agree with the others as well. To tighen a steering box It seems counter intuitive to seemingly back off the adjustment.

Diseasel300 · #14 04-30-2021, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Sure, but first try adjusting the box. It's free of charge.

Except that the adjustment on the MB box is not a slop adjustment, it's a lash adjustment. It preloads the gearset. If the box is wasted, all you're gonna do is make it tight and wear it out even faster. My experience with these cars to date has been that 90% of the slop in the steering is suspension. Once all the worn out crap is replaced, the slop left in the steering is normal for recirculating ball steering systems. Jumping straight to ruining the steering box instead of fixing the underlying issues is a band-aid fix and will come back to bite your ass later down the road.

bkc · #15 04-30-2021, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

Typically rear end steer is detectable as you come on and off the power. The steering of the vehicle changes.

I agree with the others as well. To tighen a steering box It seems counter intuitive to seemingly back off the adjustment.

When one of my w124s was wandering all over, it did it even when just maintaining a speed. If it had happened when accelerating or decelerating, I would have caught the true problem a lot earlier. It was letting the rear end dance to the surface texture of the road, pretty much, which felt like steering issues. Replacing a couple of the mulitlinks and/or their bushings fixed it beautifully. On my w115, it was when the rear shocks were weakening. Replaced those and steering has been great for years.