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  #1  
Old 06-25-2013, 10:39 PM
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Arrow Steering Wheel Turns 360 degrees

1990 190E 2.6

I noticed recently while making a turn from the street into my parking lot, the sterring wheel turned 180+ degrees. alignment is fine and steering is not wobbly or anything, but I just recently noticed that the wheel would make a full 360 degree turn sometimes if the turn was sharp (90 or less degree). driving is otherwise normal, curved roads are normal as well as the wheel only needs to be turned slightly to left or right to get the car to go in the dirction of the curve. Anyone have any idea on how to fix this?

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Old 07-01-2013, 10:37 AM
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Honestly

your post is quite vague, you mean that the wheel proceeds to turn itself into the turn?
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Old 07-01-2013, 10:56 AM
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I mean that, usually to make a simple turn, say if I were turning a corner, usually I would only turn the steering wheel a quarter turn so that the 12 o clock position if the steering wheel would be at the 3 o clock position and I would be able to make a right hand turn. Now I find myself making a right hand turn and the 12 o clock position of the steering wheel ends up almost to the 9 o clock position. It seems really excessive.
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Old 07-01-2013, 11:13 AM
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WOW.

that much slop in the way you describe is a very badly aligned car or extremely sloppy parts on the idler arm end of the steering linkage or a very worn out steering box. Is the idler arm at normal rest position when the steering is straight?

Steering boxes usually show slop in both directions.
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Old 07-01-2013, 11:37 AM
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oh, I didn't check the idler arm, wasn't sure where to begin. steering fluid is fine, alignment is fine, I will check the idler arm. could it be loose?
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Old 07-01-2013, 11:47 AM
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With the cars suspension loaded, get an assistant to move the steering while you watch the linkages move, you will find the play.

The play maybe in the drag link, the idler arm bushings, the outer tie rod or a combination of these.
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Old 07-01-2013, 11:51 AM
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even if all front steering/suspension parts are less than 3 months old? the idler arm may be the only part that is not new.
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Old 07-01-2013, 02:01 PM
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Steering response

is variable depending on road conditions. For example, if you are turning right onto an uphill street, your steering wheel angle will be different than if turning downhill (or on the level).

So long as your dead spot on center does not exceed a total of one inch measured at the steering wheel rim, your system is probably o.k. Our cars have recirculating ball steering which is somewhat less precise and 'tight' than rack and pinion steering. MB specifies about 1" play on center as I described above.
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Old 07-01-2013, 02:35 PM
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The distance to turn right is smaller but the angle range is greater (90 degrees). To make a left you have to turn 45 degrees because the lane is not that close to your origin. So you need to turn the wheel less when turning left, compared to turning right.

Try turning left the SAME distance as turning right. The steering wheel should be turned about the same amount.
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Old 07-02-2013, 12:11 AM
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When turning left or right.....not a u-turn....is it normal for the steering wheel to turn 270°+? I'm basing this on the fact that I drive my boss's Lexus and the wheel did not rotate nearly as much as mine when making a turn. Also, I've paid moe attention to others driving while I was a passenger and I didn't notice them turning the wheel nearly a full 360° in any direction just to make a left or right hand turn. Granted no one was driving a MB. What about any of you here that are reading this or posting replies.....do you turn your wheel nearly 360° to make a left or right hand turn?
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Old 07-02-2013, 07:20 AM
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Sometimes. It depends on how tight of a turn I'm making. I know the steering ratio on my W123 is a bit slower than I'd like, in other words, it takes more movement of the steering wheel to make the desired change in front wheel steering angle than I would like, but this is a ratio inherent to the steering box. It's not a bad idea to check for slop in the steering as suggested above, but it's likely your boss's Lexus simply has faster steering than your Mercedes.
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Old 07-02-2013, 12:18 PM
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Skippy, since steering operates like it is gear driven, there is no way for there to be any slip. Some cars have quicker steering, meaning that fewer turns are needed, but all have a stop that stops the wheel from turning beyond the point where the front wheels hit parts of the car. Ones brain quickly adapts to the "ratio" of the steering on a car, and if it takes 360 degrees to make a turn, your brain will adapt. I am sure this is normal for your car.
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Old 07-02-2013, 03:31 PM
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270 degrees sounds about right to turn RIGHT into a TIGHT turn (your car remaining close to the curb). To turn left at an intersection, maybe 90 degrees counterclockwise would be sufficient.

It depends on the tightness of the turn. If you have a slight right turn, then you won't turn the wheel as much. This is when comparing vehicle angle turns and steering wheel turns in the SAME car.

If you start comparing your car to others obviously theirs will have a tighter turn ratio so they won't have to turn the wheel to generate the same amount of turn required.

You're perceiving a problem that does not seem to exist. You're overanalyzing the steering wheel and vehicle dynamics a bit.
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  #14  
Old 07-02-2013, 10:41 PM
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I just don't recall having to turn my wheel nearly as much to make a turn. Is there a way to tighten this up a bit?
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  #15  
Old 07-03-2013, 01:08 AM
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Are you sure you are making the turns exactly the same way?

You said it yourself, driving otherwise is normal. Only during sharp turns do you become aware of this. That is why I am asking if you are comparing the same turn sharpness?

Don't compare to the Lexus! These steering systems of our cars are not as responsive as the new cars (small turn of the wheel, big change in turn angle).

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