My '85 300D has developed a groan - it happens when I turn the wheel (left or right) - the groan is worse if the car has been sitting and it's cold... I know it's in the steering wheel column - I can feel the vibration in the wheel when I turn. Is it possible to lubricate the column under the wheel?

James

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

how is the power steering fluid level?
when was it flushed last, and is the filter original?
what condition is the power steering belt?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Is it coming from the engine bay or from under the dash?

Mine has a rub noise sometime when turning the wheel far for a turn or into/out of a parking space.

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

VSTECH - P/S filter fairly new (1.5 hrs), full PS level, though the fluid is dark... maybe it needs to be fully flushed (again).

Anderwjtx - yeah, it's coming from under the dash, definitely... it's a rub noise when I turn the wheel - sometimes... sounds like the same symptoms. Can something be oiled?

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Not sure. It hasn't pissed me off enough yet to get under there and determine where it is.

I'd need to put the front on jacks and turn it lock<->lock to find it probably.

You've got me thinking about it again. Maybe tomorrow when the kids are taking a nap...

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

classic symptom of idler arm bushings,common wear item.

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

My idler arm bushings are new and in good shape.

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

Hmmm... is there a pic of this item?

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Two of our cars do this! One of them didn't have it, but developed it after we dropped the steering column for something.

It reminds me of my dog when he's whining. It's kind of annoying at times. Happens more during the summer for some reason. I think it comes from the general area of where the top of the steering wheel meets plastic..

Hopefully someone knows an easy way to fix it!

I get a squeak occasionally, and will agree with msega, sounds like plastic on plastic in the cabin. Doesn't bother me enough to pursue a fix.

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83 SD

84 CD

Odd my car was doing this a couple of days ago. The noise hasn't resurfaced since though.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

I have a definite groan coming from the right side, just under the passenger's feet. I suspect an idler arm bushing as well, general looseness and a work steering column link (finally found it) I have a bit of work to do this summer

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RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

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FACEBOOK: PANZER450

My 1983 300D has started this sort of 'groaning' as well (BTW, GREAT description of the sound). It sounds to me like it is coming from the right side as well.

Does the idler arm have another name that they may call it in the MB service manual? I didn't see "idler arm" in any of the different sections.

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1983 300D - 314,640 miles (not all by me) - Daily Driver --Sold--
1983 300d - 215,000 miles (approximately)

Item #53 is referred to as a drag link.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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83 SD

84 CD

I get this intermittently. I havent replaced the fluid or filter since Ive had it.

a bushing makes sense, but Id imagine that some pure silicone might be able to be dosed and determine if it changes things.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)