Replaced the steering gear in my 190e this weekend and it was a bit of a bear. Despite having the centering bolt in the gear the wheel is off center now. I'm 90% sure the coupler is a tooth or two off on the gear itself since I had to put the coupler on the shaft first and made sure the wheel was centered, I had to shove the gear up at an angle to get it in there.

So the gear is centered, the wheels are centered to the gear however the coupler and shaft are off by a tooth or two. If I pull the wheel off I assume I can center that but then the signal self cancel wont work. Due to the lack of room and collapsing shaft I don't see being able to reset the position of the gear to correct things. Is there another way, can I center the shaft somehow?

I want to ensure the wheels are centered to the gear so I definitely don't want to adjust the toe to correct for it.

I just resealed my steering box last weekend and it was actually easier than expected. The gear box is marked by a small notch on the steering shaft spline. I don't know if you just replaced yours with a rebuilt one, but if so, go look at the old box and check for the marking so you have an idea of where it is.

*Update*
I added a photo so you have an idea. The Pitman arm is also marked. You have to look on the steering shaft on the smooth part and you will see a thin marking line. If you get the box lined up to center as if you were getting ready to mount it in the vehicle the line would be at the area facing forward towards the front of the car.

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1990 190E 3.0L

So I forgot that replacing the pitman was going to put my alignment off. During install its rather tight and had to maneuver the gear into place at an angle, I was afraid I got the alignment of the coupler and the box itself off, but it turned out that was fine but my alignment was off due to the pitman arm which was replaced.

Definitely not something I want to do again anytime soon.

Both tie rods should be similar in total length after the alignment. If not, the wheel was centered by compensating with the tie rod adjustment sleeves. May want to take a look...good luck!!!

As you know

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Not sure about the 190 but the 560SL has two flats on the steering shaft. Those flats must be at the 12 and 6 o clock position when the pin is installed in the steering box. If not you need to re index the steering coupler on the box side so that the flats are at 12 and 6. Then with the shaft and coupler installed correct and the pin in the steering box install the steering wheel in the straight ahead position.

One thing I am not sure of is if there is a top and bottom to those flats, meaning you could possibly be 180° out. You could test for that by seeing if the signals cancel with the wheel rotated 180° so its upside down and requires the same amount of rotation in each direction to cancel as when its correct.

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John Roncallo

Both tie poles ought to be comparative in all out length after the arrangement. If not, the wheel was focused by repaying with the tie bar change sleeves. Might need to take a look...good karma!!!

The flats of the shaft were at roughly 6 and 12, due to space constraints I'm not sure I can say with certainty they were exact. Before alignment I centered and locked the box and confirmed the wheel itself was perfectly centered and it was. After alignment all is well and signals cancel correctly.

The box I purchased didn't come with a pitman arm which I had to swap from my old box, the position of the pitman must have been slightly off from old to new just enough to throw the toe out of whack.

The pitman shaft and arm should have alignment marks on them???

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John Roncallo

On the spline yes, but not on the height of the arm on the shaft.

Should look like this.

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__________________
To see my 129 parts for sale visit:
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John Roncallo