Steering Rack
 

Any body else have this happen to them?? a 1996 e320 steering rack , only when it's cold out it's really hard to steer it side to side, but when it warms up it's fine, after about 2-5 mins, depending on the temperature, all the fluids are where there supposed to be ,( hot or cold )...what could be the problem???:confused:

Hi,
I just had my steering rack replaced on a 2000 320 and all of a sudden now its hard to turn in cold weather for about 5 minutes. I am not an expert but maybe its the rack??

Phil:)

I had the samr problem on my Range Rover.... I blew a hose on a trail and had to trail repair it...Well I didn't properly bleed it on the trail....When I got home I completely drained all fluids, added and properly bleed the system........ now it works......... Just my 2 cents

My 98 e300 is sometimes hard to turn to the right when it is cold, but turns fine to the left. It doesn't do it every day, but it is much more likely to do it after the car has been parked overnight or during the winter months. It only does it in the first few minutes of operation. I talked to the service manager at the dealership about it, and he said it was probably caused by a sticking valve in the rack. I could have them put in a seal kit, but a rebuilt rack would cost about the same. He said they've had good luck using the new synthetic ps fluid for problems with W210 racks (Pentosin CHF 11S, $20 per liter). I flushed the system twice and the fluid that came out was dark and murky. I put the synthetic in, and probably reduced the frequency of the problem to half what it had been. I wasn't satisfied to go through another winter fighting it though, so I thought about what would make the sticking valve work better. I'll probably get scolded for this, but I put in a little NAPA/CRC power steering system seal conditioner that is supposed to be compatible with all fluids. This winter the stiffness has been even rarer, and I can power my way past it, where before, I had to turn the wheel left a little to make the stiffness go away. I figured if I needed a new rack anyway, I didn't have much to lose. No problems so far.

You know how much the pump costs, right? You're probably fine, but if it were mine, I'd probably change the fluid again anyway.

some stiffness i s normal in cold weather. if you are used to the older benz boxes you will find it disconcerting with the newer rack steering.

tom w

Well, the rack was replaced because of a leak. I got the car back and the stiffness was really bad. Sent it back for yet another rack and it is better but not the way it was. I just gave my 93 300 to my daughter and the steering was not even close to what i am experiencing. I am wondering now if it was not bled correctly.

Did they use the recommended MB power steering fluid? It has special viscosity conditioners for cold operation.

Hmmm,
Let me check with him today.