Rather than start a new thread I thought that I would resurrect this one. I to have a strange sound coming from the steering box of my girlfriend's 1977 240D. The shaft is tight to the steering wheel and there is a clicking that comes from the steering box when sitting still and working the wheel play which is about 2.5 to 3 inches. The clicking occurs at the ends of the free-play, so to speak. It sounds like the worm gear bearings that whunter described. I will be changing the box next month after the glow plugs are in my OM606.

If it were me I would heed Pater and whunter's words.

Then I would read up on the hazards of adjusting the steering box and then see if you couldn't "safely" remove some slop by adjusting it. 3 inches is three times too much.

I have a low mileage W123 parts car with no engine (easy access) but a good steering box that I would like to remove but then how do I move the parts car when need be?

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I found a leak which I believe is the steering box on this 85SE. I just got the 617 engine and transmission in it and was jacking up the tranny to install the cross member (rear engine support) when I noticed the oil. It's dripped down from the steering box and even wet the bottom of the lift pump.

I don't recall this box leaking when I parked the car, certainly not this much. I flushed the steering system a week ago. Maybe I knocked the seals out of something.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

Most likely the seals just met end of their usage life when you flushed the system. This is a high pressure system and the seals don't last forever.

If you think you're up to it you can use Stretch's thread to reseal it. If you're comfortable with the amount of play you might get away without adjusting the working piston and replacing all the seals.

What a feeling it will be! A properly adjusted W123 / W116 / W126 power steering box

Here's my thread on removing/replacing the box just for the extra info.

Steering Box R&R DIY


Additionally I recondition these boxes. Contact me if you need a rebuild/help.

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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

I think I am qualified to learn this project. Thank you sir, that pictorial is exactly what I need to muster the nerve to attack this with confidence.

Fortunately for me, the diesel body has a working steering box for a backup if I tear one up trying to keep it from leaking. Then engine is gone so getting it out should be a piece of cake.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic