560SL Steering - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rocky raccoon · #1 09-13-2009, 07:54 PM

Car is 1988 560SL. I have searched forums but found no definitive answer to my simple question.

I have about one inch of steering play measured at the steering wheel rim. It has been so ever since I bought the car almost two years ago. I haven't worried about it since the car handles very well and does not wander. I replaced one tie rod end about a year ago because I found a torn boot. There was no change to the steering then or since.

Everything else on the car is fine and I am simply looking for something to do that will satisfy my wrenching Jones. Now the question: Is that one inch of play normal? I suspect it may be since the steering is recirculating ball instead of rack and pinion.

What say you my 107 Brothers?

dugald · #2 09-13-2009, 08:00 PM

yes

BabyBlueBenz · #3 09-13-2009, 10:18 PM

I had multi-inch play at the steering wheel on my '86 560SL, which wasn't too offensive, as the car drove fine.

The annoyance came while driving down the dirt road to my home (yes, I'm a bad Mercedes owner for living in the sticks) and hearing a loud clattering from the front end.

Diagnosis: worn out steering coupler

Helpful References:
MB Maintenance Manual Job 4650: "Checking Steering Play"
107 steering coupling
Steering coupler and gear box...rattle under dash?
Steering Play 88 560 SL
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1363731-steering-idle-question.html
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=107048_14F&M=117.967&GA=722.313&L=765.707&CT=F&cat=14F&SID=46&SGR=120&SGN=04

Effort Required: Mechanical skills of a surgeon & Herculean stamina in reaching the coupler through the firewall from inside the car, and underneath.

Result: Amazingly tight steering. A real PITA (sure to cure your Jones), but worth it.

If you (or anyone else) need to replace the coupler, PM me and I can send you the instructions that I compiled from the various sources.

rocky raccoon · #4 09-14-2009, 07:45 AM

I have found that the 1" play is within spec. I guess it's back to fiddling with the sunvisor.

ehostin · #5 04-04-2011, 03:19 AM

I've read all the posts I could on the 107 chassis steering issue. I have an '87 560sl. I just had the steering coupler and the steering gearbox replaced. I purchased a NEW box. Also have had the upper control arms changed as well as the 4subframe mounts. Steering damper was replaced a couple of years ago also.

The car still wanders a bit at highway speeds and the steering wheel has about 3/4 inch of play. I notice the play while moving and while car is parked - whether running or not... I have personally been able to tighten the gear box but without too much change. Currently the steering Box is tightened to the point that it barely comes back to center on it's own after a turn; but the play remains. I was unable to tighten the box any further even though I couldn't have turned the adjustment hex nut more than 3/4 to a full 360degree turn. (I read another stating that about 16mm of height difference between the top
of the allen screw and the top of the 19mm hex locking nut is the limit of tightening. I don't think I'm anywhere near that, however.)

I have read several posts stating that up to an inch of play is within spec. I have also read several posts remarking on their newly "tight" steering. My question is how tight is "tight" for those who have reached steering nirvana? The play really seems to be within the gear box as far as I can tell by getting underneath the car.

Is it possible that a new box would have such play? My mechanic believes so, but I just can't believe that any 560sl rolled off the lot with such play in the steering.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

E. Hostin

nobby · #6 04-04-2011, 10:16 PM

Maybe it depends on what you are comparing to.

There are lots of moving parts in this type of steering set up.

If you have your steering play down to 3/4" I think you are doing good.

It will never feel like a Rack and Pinion steering....my 15 year old Honda Civic had tighter steering.

JohnM. · #7 04-04-2011, 10:42 PM

A Recirc ball steering setup can be very tight if everything is in good order. If you have adjusted the box to the point where steering is not returning to center, then it's obvious the box needs a rebuild. Or you have a bad box, defective rebuild. There is almost no discernable play in my W124's steering wheel, and a low mileage 107 that I flipped last year also had extremely tight steering. 3/4" to an 1" is not bad for a 20+ year old car, because most people would die for that little play. But its still not as good as it could be

ehostin · #8 04-06-2011, 12:40 AM

Thank you for your replies. As a point of clarification, this is a new box from MB. I did a little research on recirculating ball steering. I read somewhere (not sure if unique to a particular make) that there are two areas where such a gearbox could be adjusted. The Allen key adjustment is the only one which can be made without removing it. Is this true? In the case of my new steering box, is it possible that the mechanic did not correctly make that initial adjustment?

nobby · #9 04-06-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehostin

Thank you for your replies. As a point of clarification, this is a new box from MB. I did a little research on recirculating ball steering. I read somewhere (not sure if unique to a particular make) that there are two areas where such a gearbox could be adjusted. The Allen key adjustment is the only one which can be made without removing it. Is this true? In the case of my new steering box, is it possible that the mechanic did not correctly make that initial adjustment?

I would have to say that if it was "new" or rebuilt the adjustment would be preset and it shuold be good to go outta the box.

Maybe other components of you front steering / suspension should be checked again....if you're not happy that is.

3/4 inch of TOTAL play is pretty good.

I have less play but I installed a smaller NARDI steering wheel.

Yes, I cheated.

ehostin · #10 04-07-2011, 01:52 AM

The 3/4in of play may seem silly to quibble over, however, at highway speeds, the steering wanders and I constantly have to adjust the wheel to keep on track. It's not pleasant. I would agree that a new gearbox should be good right out of the box.

I will check the front end /suspension elements once again, but the excess motion at this point is seen going into the box and not coming out on the pitman arm side. I will play with the adjustment screw this weekend...

rocky raccoon · #11 04-07-2011, 07:17 AM

I'm the OP (year and a half ago) and am satisfied with the answers I got then. I still have a one inch play in my steering wheel but the car tracks true and does not wander. The only front end work I have done in the past couple of years was to replace both outer tie rod ends and that was because one boot was split and both were getting a little clunky. Within the past two weeks I had new tires installed and an alignment done.

If your car wanders, I think you need to look elsewhere than the steering box. Most posters that attempt adjustment of that unit end up with more trouble than they started with. Assuming all of your steering and suspension links check out as you say, wander can be a result of something as simple as alignment (front and/or rear) or tire wear.

nobby · #12 04-07-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehostin

The 3/4in of play may seem silly to quibble over, however, at highway speeds, the steering wanders and I constantly have to adjust the wheel to keep on track. It's not pleasant. I would agree that a new gearbox should be good right out of the box.

I changed my tires last summer and find the new ones VERY road sensitive.

Maybe you should consider that idea.

ehostin · #13 04-10-2011, 02:15 AM

Looked at my steering box once with every intention to work on the adjustement screw. I noticed for the first time that the allen bolt was more than a 1/2 inch above the top of the locking nut. I recall a post noting that the hex screw could be adjusted up to 16mm above the top of the locking nut. With this info, I am certain that I have previously adjusted this box as far counterclockwise and as far tight as it would go.

Is anyone aware of this screw length signifying maximum adjustment? I would assume that a "new" steering box could be adjusted to the point of locking up the box and then the screw being "backed off" to regain motion. Is this correct?

This box is under warranty. I think that I will have it replaced, but I'd like get others' opinions.