The thing is, getting that clunk to occur is actually a hard task. The way that I have to spin the wheel side to side hard and fast (over that 1-2" range) is not something that I would ever do or be able to do in everyday driving. And the box is nice and tight the rest of the time.

I think maybe it has been like this for some time, and just has something to do with the internals of the box, which is inherent to its design.

If it would make this noise easily or all the time, maybe Id be more worried. But sitting still rocking the wheel hard through the centerpoint isnt very normal.

Do the worm gears have some end point, perhaps where they physically have to catch on something else at some degree past the centerpoint, to turn the stuff right or left? The way I see it, there would need to be two sets of gears, that engage and spin in opposite directions depending upon which way the steering wheel is turned.

But that said, Im going to start shopping for a steering box. Any ideas how much they are new/rebuilt?

Thanks,

JMH

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
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