300 SDL 1987
Just had my steering box removed, broken down and replaced all the seals- now dry as a bone no leaks, also replaced the PS filter and the O-ring at the bottom of the PS Reservoir. Now at first intermittently and only at Idle I can easily turn all the way from lock to lock clockwise (right turn) with the steering wheel, but turning counter-clockwise (left turns) feel like there is complete loss of power steering as if the engine were off.
This was at first only at idle, which i may have attributed to a slipping belt, but just now I had it stay stuck this way, no more intermittent. Also, now happening at all speeds including freeway. (SCARRY by the way) and still only to the left.
I have to think it must be a problem internal to the PS box- not a pump issue, or it would be both ways-???
Any engineering explanations, air bubbles in the box, or what? My mechanic said there are no directional valves to get stuck, which is how it feels immediately when changing from right to left turns.
the only other clue is that after 200K miles there was quite a bit of sludge when the box was apart- probably Stop leak stuff- but that was supposedly all cleaned out.

Sounds like your on the "left coast" and it's rebeling! It wants to be a "right coast car" only

Seriously, doesn't make sense to me, maybe there is something in the rest of the linkage that is rubbing . . .?

Funny, i always wondered why "east coasters" seem to be going in circles,
but seriously.
I have replaced the center link both tie rods, new bilstein shocks and steering stabilizer, and all the misc suspension bushings except the lower ball joints- those are next... could it be the ball joints?? doesn't make sense

think if some suspension were rubbing I would have seen... but i'll look again.

the only major change from before the problem occured is the PS box rebuild, but why only in one direction
I know it is a recirculating ball type, would something allow the balls to move up, but not down, or visa-versa. (besides any funny trampoline jokes)

Engineer types out there??
anyone rebuilt one of the W126 steering boxes remember something inside that would change directionally the PS fluid or block it nearly all the way??

Your car has been commandered by the FBI...
There was a book written about cars passenger's being safer if they only turned one direction...
I am not kidding about this...and edict was put out by FBI chief Hoover...
LOL

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html