Scirbe the relationship between the sheering box output shaft and the pitman arm. Use an impact wrench to remove the big nut. Use a pitman arm puller, looks like a small but very beefy pulley puller, to remove the pitman arm.

I've read replacing the the first seal you get to usually stops the leak.

Lots of debate on reusing the bolts that hold the steering box to the frame. Manual says to use new bolts, many say it's okay to clean the old bolts and apply blue Loktite.

Sixto
93 300SD

Oh joy. Sounds like fun. Well, the shop was closed today, so I guess I will call them Friday (if they are open), or Monday and see if they can check this out. Thanks again!

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2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)

My 1982 300SD did exactly the same thing. One of the high pressure hoses developed a leak. Before you start buying parts degrease the engine compartment and find out where the leak is really coming from. When there is a lot of fluid involved its difficult to trace the source and of course gravity makes it look like the lowest part in the system is really the culprit when it may not be.

The hose is really easy to change. Be sure to have a bucket ready to catch the PS fluid that will pour out of the open line. Your driveway will thank you!

Not hard at all. I used an impact gun to break free the four bolts inside the wheel well. If I remember correctly I used a puller and got the pitman arm off with the box still on the car, so I didn't have to pop the ball joints. Then disconect the hoses and what looks like a flex disc attaching it to the steering wheel shaft.

The seal comes right out and you gently tap the new one in, Fastlane sells the whole kit. You cannot get parts for these cars at the chain stores don't waste your time. Also replace the return lines they are all cracked and shot no one ever changes them.

Note: On the V8 powered cars there is a lot less room, on the I6 cars lots of space.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

My local salvage yard quoted $30 for an LKQ pump...beats the hell out of fighting with a bunch of fiddly little seals.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

The pump or the gear box? Steering box's wear out so a used one is a crap shoot at best. Check to see how much play it has. Your best bet is a rebuilt one.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks Hat. As mentioned on my other post, I finally drove the car to a shop today. It is a one man show.... he works mostly on European cars... mainly Volvos, but he can work on most anything.

He said it was definitely the seal and he will fix it for about $30-$40 labor. He said it was not too bad of a job, as you mentioned, but it is more than I want to tackle at this time. He said all I will need to do is get the part. He was insisting that I get the part from the Mercedes dealer, but I imagine they would want $$$$ for that kit. I think I can get it here for what, about $24 someone mentioned? I am wondering though... can that seal be bought seperately and if so, where can I get it at? I think you said it is about $3? Where can I get just that $3.00 seal- or do I have to buy the entire kit? I want to get this car fixed ASAP. If I do not sell it for what I want for it, I am going to give it to my mother (after I fix it of course).

Is this the seal I need for the steering box...
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1Y61CDNHG1YE195AML&year=1985&make=MB&model=380-SE-001&category=M&part=P%2FS+Seal
Thanks in advance!

Per the EPC steering box seals are available individually from the dealer. The lowermost seal in the steering box listed at $4 in 2001. If the leak is from upstream of the lower cover, there's maybe another $3 in crush washers and o-rings. If he's charging $30-40 then it's probably just the lowest seal so you might as well go with the dealer item. It'll cost you more to shop around.

Sixto
93 300SD

Thanks.... so when I call the dealer what do I ask for.... just simply say "lowest seal on the steering sector box"? Just wondering if there is not another thing they call it or not....

Try 019 997 50 47 seal ring (looks like a shaft seal).

If the lower covers comes off, you also need 009 997 42 45 seal ring (looks like a crush washer), 009 997 47 45 seal ring (looks like an o-ring) and 013 997 37 48 seal ring (looks like an o-ring).

Sixto
93 300SD

Well among other things I ordered the whole gearbox seal kit from Fastlane yesterday. I will try to get to replacing my seals within the next couple of weeks and will report back with my experience. If I can't squeeze this job in over the next couple of weeks it will have to wait until the new year.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Well, well, well. Seems like this seal is not even available at Mercedes-Benz dealer - at least not at ours. He said he cannot even special order it (or the kit) out of Germany. He said they really are not able to get alot of parts for the older Mercedes. Is this common? Sounds to me like a bunch of hogwash.

That is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. What do they expect you to do? Junk the car and pay $120,000 for a new one?

I guess I will have to get the one here for $24.00 and pay $24.00 for ONE seal.

He is full of crap, anyone just buy it from Phil. I think the whole kit is like $20. The seal for the shaft that connects to the pitman arm is leaking right?

I think that might be it:
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1YB12F7VA1YF1BGHO7&year=1983&make=MB&model=380-SEL-002&category=M&part=Steering+Cover+Seal

Or just buy the whole kit:
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1YB12F7VA1YF1BGHO7&year=1983&make=MB&model=380-SEL-002&category=M&part=Steering+Gear+Seal+Kit

Come on this is isn't a big deal.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thats what I thought.... I cannot believe that they cannot get it. Like I said, I think it is nonsense. Anyway, he said the part # is 019-997-50-47.

I clicked on your links- that shows a 83' 380SEL, but I checked and the 85' 380SE is the same... I should have guessed that. Its not a big deal, but it was interesting to note that the complete seal kit went up a few cents since yesterday.

So, this "steering cover seal" http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1Y61CDNHG1YF1DR594&year=1985&make=MB&model=380-SE-001&category=M&part=Steering+Cover+Seal , is the lower most seal that I need?

You are also correct- $25.00 is not a big deal for the entire kit and if I were to keep the car for a long time I would go ahead and get it, but I do not know how much more he would charge, or even if the mechanic would be able to put in the entire kit, especially for the $30.00 he told me. I would much rather get the needed seal to fix the leak. I may be selling the car anyway. I do not want to put alot more $ into this car, because I am going to have a difficult time it looks like even getting out of it what I have invested, because I had it advertised here before the seal busted and had NO interests- so the more I put into it, the more I am losing at this point. I am sure you can understand that. If after the repair and I cannot get the price I need for it, I will pour some "auto-rx" in the engine and see if that will restore the noisy lifters (which are not all that bad), drive, drain, refill with synthetic Amsoil and see how many more miles I can get out of it and continue to SQUEEZE around the driveway. Then I have to find out why I have the rough running, spluttery, gassy smelling exhaust, missing, etc when the engine is cold problem. Maybe a vac. leak, etc. Maybe the guy can check that problem too.

I would RATHER fix the PSF leak and sell this car to someone that has the know-how, time and willingness to work on this old Benz- which I think still has alot of potential- because aside from the chain/tensioner etc due for a change- the transmission, body (rust free, aside from one small speck near the RR wheel well and upper side of the trunk area due to a leaky antenna seal it had in the past) and interior (very good MB-Tex) and the rest of the car in general (still good electronics) are still very servicable. This car would be perfect for a DIY'er that knows about old Mercedes and appreciates them.

MORE about the steering..... awhile back, I read where there is an adjustment on the steering box that takes some of the slack out of the steering. As far as I can tell, all of the bushings on my car look OK, but I have more "slack" aka "play" in the steering than desired. While he is under there, can someone tell me what that procedure is that he may can perform to try to take some of this away? He may already know... I will ask him.

Thanks again!

To update, I am going to buy the 4 needed seals from Phil. I was getting my pa to pay with his paypal account, rather than me having to use my credit card (which I only like to do in emergencies), but it is asking him for his passwords and he is uneasy. I have contacted Phil to see if there are other methods. I guess if he cannot simply send it to his address w/o passwords, I will use my credit card, or go to another MB dealer and see if they can order it, because our stupid local dealer says they cannot get these seals for a 22 y/o car.