Hello, I am a new owner of a 92 400E with 170K. First time Mercedes owner. With its age, it will need a lot of maintenance to bring it up in good health. Currently, there is a big power steering leak and I suspect it is the hose between the reservoir and the pump. Because the pump has been run without fluid few times, I bought a rebuilt pump from ******** to replace the leaking one. I removed the 2 bolts that hold the steering pump bracket ( one under the reservoir and the other one behine the bracket on the driver side), but the bracket don't want to come off. Am I missing a bolt somewhere?

Also, as part of the maintence, i like to replace the water pump. However, I see that one of the mounting bolts is behind the big harmonic balancer. I don't see a way to loosen that bolts without taking out the cooling fan bracket (that will make me to take out the alternator) and the harmonic balancer. If I am right, is it worth it to do? Or should I wait until the water pump fail?

Beside that, here is my maintence list to bring the 400E back to life:

change out tranny fluid filter, tranny fluid, oil change, caps, rotors, wires, plugs, new power steering pump, filter, differential oil, drive belt change, new fan clutch, coolant change, thermostat change, and drive belt tensioner change.

Am i missing anything?

I'd forget about replacing the pump. You can unscrew the nipple from inside the reservoir (actually the "foot" the reservoir attaches to) and then easy enough (relatively speaking) to replace the hose. Get the right hose, hopefully a dealer will sell you a small quantity of it.
water pump bolt, if I'mnot mistaken there is a notch in the harmonic balancer that allows access to the bottom bolt ot bolts.
Gilly

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Thanks for the quick reply. I hope there is a notch on the harmonic balancer, or it will be a stupid design.

i took part of the old steering pump out already. I like to have a new pump in there, so i don't get that grinding noise if the pump was damage.
anyone will like to comment on how to take out the power steering pump bracket?

Bump

Unless the steering gear box is also leaking, it's really unlikely the pump was low enough on fluid to be damaged, or unless the radial sealing ring is also leaking. The connecting hose leaking is a fairly common failure, the pumps are very durable. What part of the pump have you taken off, can't you just put it right back on? Sorry, I obviously don't know the answer to what you're asking about the bracket, don't recall removing one. If nothing else you can subscribe for a day to www.startekinfo.com. Also wanted to mention there was a bulletin on the hose leaking and that has a list of parts you should have. Besides the hose they wanted you to replace the nipple itself, plus there is a sealing ring under that nipple, and a gasket between the reservoir and bracket.
Gilly

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The bracket I am talking about is item 30a in the picture. Does the pump, item 30, just come out by removing the 2 bolts, item 46, that mounts the pump to the bracket?

Attached Thumbnails

 

There is a 13mm bolt you cant see, look with a mirror above compressor ac, going to need a long extension and universal joint, or if you can feed your hand up there you can reach it to loosen a 13mm wrench will do

You don't have to remove the bracket from the engine. That's more work. Just remove the pump from the bracket.

Images from my previous post are broken and I can't edit the old post, photos are at this link now:
Index of /images/M119/PS_pumps

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Dave,

Your pictures and write-up are magnificent.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Paul, I wish it were my pics & writeup on the other forum... but that's all Gerry's work. I just have the few photos shown above in this thread, some of which are from Jon (emerydc8).

I think Paul was referring to the annotated photos in the folder on your web site, Dave.

How ya doing Gerry?

I still feel privileged to have gone for a ride in your 6.3 when I visited Portland many years ago.

You both have fantastic pictures and write ups.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Thanks, I look on that evening with fondness, hard to believe it was so long ago. The 6.3 was a fun car, and mine was a particularly nice example mechanically and on the interior. But I'm glad to have moved on. The 500E is truly the modern 6.3....

I have yet to meet Dave in person, though...