W114 280E steering problems - major drift?

[body_infinity]

Hi guyz, before I go breaking things I thought I would check with you all in regards to a problem with my w114 steering - its seems to drift and not go in a straight line??

Checked tyres - good
Power St - good no leaks etc, pump working well
No slack in steering

Hmm any tips would be great, thanks again.

BI

[Mike D]

Check the three bolts holding the gearbox on the driver's side frame. I mean CHECK them! Pull them completely out and check them for stretch. Don't just check them for tightness. Look for signs of the frame collapsing. Most W114's end up having a plate welded on the mounting area as added support. I just went through this on my '73 280 and I checked them for tightness EVERY time I serviced the car.

It drove fine, tended to kind of "wallow" on a rutted road and "floated" through winding curves.

I pulled into a parking space one day and heard a "pop". The rearmost upper bolt was sheared off and the box was just pivoting on the lower bolt (the recessed one). The center bolt was flexing the frame and allowing the drift. I welded on a plate and replaced ALL the bolts with hardened bolts (10.9 which is what the originals were).

If you use loctite, and I don't recommend it because it can give you a false torque reading, only use the blue or purple "small parts" stuff. Do NOT use the red or green.

[JimFreeh]

Incorrect toe in can also cause wandering.

Jim

[230/8]

Check and set: caster, camber and toe-in in that order.

Steering mount bolts are one-time bolts. Once removed they should be discarded and replaced with new steering mount bolts.

230/8