I still haven't had mine put in yet- next week I think- I cannot wait to get rid of all that chatter in the steering column-

__________________
94 E320
71 350SL

Sadly, the chatter in the steering wheel is a bad steering coupler, not the subframe mounts.

Bad subframe mounts make the car lurch left to right, especially under hard braking, and cause it to follow road surface very badly, but the only noise assiciated with the is the clank of the subframe hitting the frame on bumps.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Concur with Peter, your clacking is coming from the steering coupler. You may not need a complete coupler though, possibly just the three bushings inside the coupler.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Ok, I definetly get the lurching to the side under hard braking- the turn off to the road I live on is from a 2 lane bi-way, and a a left turn from the fast lane, with a very short turn lane, so I feel this everyday...

3 bushings inside the steering coupler- think my mechanic will be able to get these? I might as well have him check it out while he is under there dealing with the sub mounts-

__________________
94 E320
71 350SL

Mike:

Where can you get the bushings? I've not found a source, everyone wants to sell me a coupler. I've got two more of those to get (one for the 220D if I ever get it running and one for the 300D my brother drives). I've like to rebuild the one off the 280.

The ones on the W115 can't be fixed.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Franz, the local Indy who knows the oldies had them (he replaced them when doing the steering box rebuild). Not sure where he sourced them. You could try Phil at FastLane, he might be able to locate them.

I just searched through my EPC, found a part # 111 462 01 65, simply called a ring, within the coupler, EPC states there are 2, I always thought there were 3. The coupler part # is 115 460 05 10, PartsShop has the couple for $70, but they don't show the bushing.

Hope that helps.

PS: Just looked for the coupler on your brothers 300D, Part # 123 460 02 10, FastLane has it for $58.59. Design is much different that the 108's.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Mike:

Thanks for the part #, I'm sure Hans can track it down for me. I'll probably stop in tomorrow for an oil filter and air filter anyway.

My brother's 300D is a 75, the W123 part won't fit!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

D'OH, a '75, I should have known that, read it enough times.

Anyway, that part # is 115 460 05 10, price through FastLane is $74.70. Which, by the way is the same part as the 108.

Also, last night I double checked the paper manual, and it shows only two bushings in the couplers. No idea where I got the impression the coupler took three.

Hope that helps.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Has anyone been able to locate just the 2 bushings that go in the steering coupling (for 111, 108, 115, etc)?

I am going to have a look now, seems foolish to buy the whole thing for 75 if the 2 bushings are available somewhere-

-JAS

__________________
94 E320
71 350SL

I'll check with my parts supplier tomorrow, he has access to both WorldPac and MB, so if they can be found, he can get them.

He usually just replaces the coupler, it's far easier for him and he makes more money that way.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Here's the hardware used on the coupling. Got a pic of the coupler with these parts that I was unable to attach. Email me and I'll get it to you.

111 462 01 65 Bushing (x2)
115 990 17 40 Washer (x2)
912002 010001 lock (x2)
124 990 41 40 Washer (x2)

Regards,

Okay, the suspense is killing me- the 280sel is in the shop today, having the subframe mounts installed, and the bushings in the steering coupler renewed, along with an alignment and 4 new Yoko's (215/70/14) on the set of 4 6.5"x14 bundt cake alloys I bought-

I am hoping she'll drive like new- and that it doesn't take a day's labor to do all this!

Will report back-

-JAS

__________________
94 E320
71 350SL

Okay, car is back. Apparently the subframe mounts that were in there were not too bad, or didn't look too bad anyway. The mechanic seemed to think it was a waste of time changing them, though I must say that it brakes a lot straighter. Maybe they were compromised internally, and just looked decent on the outside.
As far as the steering coupler, I had ordered the bushings to have them replaced, but this turned out to be unnecessary. All they did was put a new lock washer on one of the old bushings.

So, despite having to try to control my internet diagnosing a bit, I must say the car, with 6.5" wide alloys and 4 new tires mounted, drives like an S-class should. An alignment will finish it off-

JAS

__________________
94 E320
71 350SL