Steering Box Play W208
 

Hi forum friends,
My clk 430 has a big steering play especiallz when the wheel are turned, after inspection i noticed that the play is inside the steering box and not on the baal joints or other pieces..........unfortunatly for me.
Yhe car has 190.000 Km and i do not think that is time to change the steering box, no oil leks and i changed the fluid 50.000 km ago.
I simply would like to know if there is a system to reduce the play, becaus i can not see any adjustments......
is it possible to do something?
I also have a stored code like '' excessive steering play...''
many thanks
Alberto

My 202 had this same play, and the box itself was replaced under my Starmark warranty at about 85k miles, or 120kish Kilometers.

lucky you..............
 

thank for the reply
unfortunatly for me.......i do not have any garantee here in Europe works different.........
I hope somebody else will help me.......to fix this problem without change the box...

Steering Box
 

I had mine rebuilt. MB does sell a kit that is way cheaper to buy than a new box. Mine was leaking however, and I had mine rebuilt by a mechanic and also had the ball joints replaced. Stears great and feels very solid, no steering wooble or play. Good luck.

If the steering box is anything like the ones used on every other Mercedes, then yes, it can be adjusted. On top of the steering box is a 6mm allen head bolt with a 19mm hex locknut. Loosen the locknut. Turn the allen head bolt out - anti-clockwise.

To do this correctly, the tie rods must be disconnected and the torque required to turn the steering wheel measured. The torque increases near the on-center "dead ahead" position.

In practice, it works acceptably to adjust it 1/4 turn at a time until the result is satisfactory. It is very important not to overdo the adjustment - that will cause internal binding and eventual damage to the steering box. It is quite evident when the steering is too tight; the car drives poorly, does not track straight down the road, and the steering does not return to center without assistance from the driver.

Good luck,

- JimY

perfect
 

Ok the steering box is like tho other MB and not like pinion rack...........so may be i can try carefully to adjust it.
Just i tried to find the little allen bolt but i can not find it .
Do you have any pictures or drawing?
Anyway I apprecieate your help
thanks a lot¨
Alberto

I am interested in adjusting my loose steering also. I have moderate steering play and steering feels a bit tight. Does anyone on this forum has directions, drawings or pictures of the area whwere adjuster bolt is on steering box?
I couldn't find mine.
Thank you
Victor

if it is a recirc ball box
 

like the old ones, there will be a large threaded thing like the end of a bolt sticking out the top. about .5" in dia. this has a recess in the end to take an allen wrench, maybe about 8mm. then there is a large nut that locks the threaded shaft in place. loosen the large nut (maybe is 19mm or 17mm), and turn the threaded shaft anti clockwise to tighten. then do as stated in above post. the old rb boxes will adjust up with even 200k on them.

i once replaced one with a rebuilt and it was not smooth... took a couple of years to wear it in. after that i made sure to adjust as much as possible.

tom w

Very odd that when mine was replaced, the service advisor said it was worn to the degree that the adjustment was "maxed out." This was at 85k. Something doesn't jibe here.

I could be wrong, but W140 cars were the last Mercedes to use recirculating ball.

208's should have rack and pinion.

may be ....is pinion rack??
 

Hi,
My box does not look like BMW or other pinion rack.......it looks likem the box on w124 the only problem is that i ca not locate the allen bolt.......may be is on the hide-side........
Some MB ''guru'' cernatanly knows if is pnion rack or adjustable box....
many thanks
Alberto

Suginami, the 202 uses recirc ball, and as the 208 is based on it, I would think it is the same. R/P would have started with 203, 220, 209, etc....

I looked, and the 208 definately has a recirculating ball steering box, not rack & pinion. That makes sense; it's basically a modified 202 chassis.

I've not looked under the hood of a 208, but I imagine with the V8 engine, the steering box is quite difficult to see. The adjustment is on the top of the box, toward the rear portion.