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Old 08-11-2011, 04:18 AM
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Stretch Stretch is offline
...like a shield of steel
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere in the Netherlands
Posts: 14,461
Getting started

First drain the steering fluid. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left...



...and undo the little screw on the steering box...



Catch the oil as it pours out.

Disconnect the supply and return hoses from the power steering pump.


Disconnect the centre steering stay ball joint from the Pitman arm.


Centre the steering wheel if you wish and then disconnect the rubber flex joint between the steering box and the steering wheel shaft.


Whilst supporting the steering box remove the four bolts that hold it onto the side of the engine bay. The heads for these bolts are in the wheel well. Warning:- the steering box is heavy and awkward – mine weighs 14kg.


If you struggle with these stages, stop and ask yourself if you really want to continue. Adjusting a steering box does get a bit harder than this! (Please note I've given you a bit more information than that presented in http://www.davidpetryk.net/Mercedes/Steering.htm, but I do agree with the “If you can’t figure how to get the gearbox off the car you don’t need to be taking it apart” comment)


Clean the outside of the steering box if necessary with your favourite engine degreaser.


Remove the Pitman arm.


For removal of the Pitman arm there is a special tool / puller for it – but chatting with the chief mechanic at the dealer he said that you usually have to resort to using heat (and lots of it). I tried with a Butane blow torch but it didn't work – shame of shame I got the mechanic to remove it for me. I don't think he bothered with the special tool.
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Last edited by Stretch; 08-11-2011 at 04:38 AM.
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