I have a slight shimmy at speeds 45-55 on some roads.

But more importanly, I also have a fairly slight play in my steering, that when I am taking a slight curve at highway speeds , if I correct it will sometimes overcompensate and I have to correct again in opposite direction.

Someone mentioned tightening a steering box on another model car in another thread. Could this cause play in steering and can I tighten it in a 93 400 SEL?

One benz tech said there is nothing wrong with it , but I know my car and he did not drive it under all conditions to feel it like I did , I am going to ask for a second opinion, but would like to know beforehand what to look for with him when he checks it

Am i imagining it , or does it happen to my year car

I would also ask him to inspect the ball joints at the tie rod ends.

No other ideas? Come on guys. You know more than that . Give it up

Our cars have recirculating ball steering rather than the more precise feeling rack and pinion. One inch of play at the steering wheel rim is typical and normal.

Shimmy on the other hand is not. If the shimmy is not present at lower speed and also goes away at speeds in excess of 55 it sounds like typical wheel balance to me. If your balance is old (say a year or more) or high mileage, it is probably due. Tires wear unevenly over the lifetime and balance should be checked whenever one feels shimmy or sees uneven tire wear. If your balance is new, have it rebalanced or try a different tire shop.

When you say one inch of play is normal, do you mean that while driving the car , or standing still with motor off?

I feel a slight drift during turns, and possibly its always been there, and I am just imagining it getting worse. Is there a steering box adjustment on my 93 400SEL before I ask the mechanic about it and look like a idiot .

One inch driving or sitting.

IRT steering box adjustment; I do not have the same model as you but .... The majority of loose-feeling steering issues (beyond the one inch) can generally be traced to steering component wear such as tie rod or ball joint. Be wary of adjusting the steering box play. It seldom needs attention so long as the lubricant level is maintained. Many people try to take the easy way out of front end problems by adjusting the steering box. The results are often disappointing and result in a damaged steering box PLUS the original front end component problem.

Keep us posted so we can add to the data base.

When you say lubricant level I assume you mean power steering fluid level? If thats what you mean, my PS has been leaking a little for years and I just keep toppin it off.

There may have been times when It was very low, as evidenced by a moaning noise , especially when cold. Could this have damaged the steering box?

I have added some Lucas powers steering leak fix, to my fluid, and I watch it much more carefully now .


Thoughts regards damage while I wait to check play in steering wheel ?

Where you will really notice steering box play is if you put the car on a lift and let the front suspension hang down free. Then turn the wheels all the way to lock in each direction. Using your hands to move the tire, you can generally see a lot of wheel wobble if the steering box has undue play. But only when you reach full lock position. This after all other components have been eliminated as the cause of play.

One thing to keep in mind, is that unless your car is being serviced at a concientious MB dealer, the steering fluid rarely if ever gets changed. Most people simply add fluid as needed. The fluid will deteriorate over a long enough time, and can damage the steering box components. When you drain it make sure to replenish it immediately, failing to do so can stick the vanes in the power steering pump (cruddy old fluid and air mixing can cause a varnish effect which in turn will cause the vanes to bind in the rotor of the steering pump) If that should happen you will have no more power steering..(no pump pressure) Then you need to remove the pump, dismantle same and thoroughly clean everything then re-assemble.

My 95 E320 also had what I thought was excessive play in the steering wheel. The car would wander and if I dropped off on to the shoulder of the road (maybe a 1" difference in pavement height) it required considerable correction with the steering wheel.
My problem turned out to be worn tie rod ends (they were not very bad but were causing the problem). With weight on the wheels, have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth just slightly to take up the free play while you reach under the car and look and feel of each connection in the steering linkage.
I also replaced the steering damper, as it was also shot. The tie rod ends were the main culprit.