heavy steering wheel
 

Under certain conditions, my steering feels "heavy", like the power steering is losing power, usually during a decelleration event, opn my 88 300e. is this typical of that model, or is there some mechanical anomaly?

Check your fluid -- you may be low or empty. Check the hoses connected to the reservoir and pump body -- are they leaking at the connectors or elsewhere?

Rub your finger inside the pulley -- is it very oily? If so, front seal may be leaking.

If all that is OK, check to see if your belt is slipping -- is it squealing? Is it wet or oily? Are other belt-driven components such as the water pump and alternator behaving properly?

If those are OK, the problem may be with the pump itself (which is unlikely, since there isn't much in there to fail) or the steering box. I don't know much about the steering box, so perhaps someone else will chime in.