Hello, just wondering if anybody has had this issue. The snap ring holding my pressure modulator cap on the top-side of my steering gear popped out. The cap is on the left side about an inch from the frame, so the cap didn't fall completely out.

I can't seem to find a way to get the snap ring back in. My channel-lock snap ring pliers have small tips which can get near it, but it doesn't hold the snap ring very well and it went flying a few times pinballing around the garage. Now I've lost one completely. That's ok because it was the new one from the Febi seal kit and I think that it popped out because it wasn't very well made. The ring had a bevel on the edge which I think allowed it to pop out under pressure. I re-sealed the unit last spring.

I can't really get the snap ring in place with those pliers, since I have to use a magnet pickup tool to hold the ring from flying and there's not much room for anything else to push the spring loaded cap in and seat the ring. I have to pry the cap all the way in with a large screwdriver.

Anyway, I have the original snap ring which is still perfectly good. But I can't seem to get it inserted. I even bought some new angled pliers with nice 1.7mm tips but it's too wide to fit in the space. It's great that they put this cap where it can pop out and not get lost, but do I really have to remove the steering gear again to put the snap ring back in?

Is there some trick to it?

1987 300E

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1987 300E

Dunno if this would work in your case.. I’ve used wire to tie a snap ring down, insert where you need it then cut the wire. You need a thin strong wire.

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

Thanks for the idea! I do have some thin wire, I don't think there's enough room to get anything inside after to cut it though. Maybe just a few twists will keep it together long enough to get it mostly in place. If it wasn't inside a recessed bore facing the frame this would be so much easier! lol


Otherwise I'll just be unbolting it this weekend when it warms up a bit. It's below freezing right now.

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1987 300E

In the end I unbolted the 3 bolts holding the steering gear to the frame. That let me pry it out another couple inches which was enough to take the cap out, reposition the spring that had turned sideways, and then get the snap ring in with proper pliers with nice meaty 1.7mm tips. I was able to make sure it pressed in all the way with a large screwdriver pushing against some angled pliers. I had a little inspection mirror to help with all of this. Seems to be good now. I was able to get it back in place with one hand easily enough. The bolts are 70 to 80 Nm torque. Used regular STP power steering fluid this time.

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1987 300E