Is this a problem?
 

Here is a picture of what appears to be a link between my power steering pump and the steering column... so if it weren't there I would have no steering. As I did an oil change yesterday I noticed that it has a crack, and several more smaller cracks all the way around. (I think this is one great reason to do your own oil changes and other repairs, a $6 tech at an oil change place probably would have never noticed or bothered to tell me)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...eeringDisc.jpg

So, if I could get some opinions: Should this car be taken immediately off the road? Currently my wife drives it about 2 miles to work and back each day. I think I will replace it regardless, it should be cheap and easy enough to change. What is this thing called? Steering damper?

Thanks in advance.

What car?

That is the steering column flex joint. I dont know if that is the name used in the parts manual. If they are only surface cracks (no deeper than say 1/8") it should be ok to drive. The worst that could happen, if it totally disintegrated, would be that you would have about 1/4 of a turn of play in your steering wheel. Best you order a replacement from fastlane (the Buy Parts link above). My old 300D has a much worse looking one than yours. Its a parts car now, but was driven distances like it is.

BTW you should put what car it is in your signature to help us all !!

Depends, there are four bolts through a rubber disc, I imagine if one failed may be okay till you can swap it out.
Part number 123 460 02 10.

As soon as I made the post I noticed the car was not in my signature... so I went and put it in. You guys were just a little too fast for me though. 1985 300D.

it's great that you added your car to the sig line, but like your CD you no longer have, it's a good idea to put it in the original question. that way if in the future you change cars and your sig. the question stays valid to the car you are asking about for others to look up the question.
or, if like me you have a LOT of cars in your sig...

If it were me, I'd take it off the road. The photo makes it look like the crack has extended to the rivet so it looks like it goes all the way through. It it an easy fix: two allen screws, scribe the steering wheel shaft to get correct alignment on re-install and you're done.

If it's that bad, take it off the road, soak the connections in your choice of penetrating oil for the day or so it takes to get the parts through your preferred method (dealer, website, etc).

It is, however, not exactly cheap at $88. http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1985-Mercedes--Benz-300d-Steering&yearid=1985%40%401985&makeid=63%40%40MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40X&modelid=6193%3AED%7C10000135%3AMB C%7C1504%40%40300D&catid=241580%40%40Steering&subcatid=241649@@Steering+Coupling&mode=PD

Also, sign up for the M-B electronic parts catalog. Good diagrams and parts info. EPC startek or something similar.

I would also replace it, I don't like messing around with degraded steering components.

Drat! now I have to go look at mine.;)

If you drive the Car yourself I think it would be OK to drive because I think that when you drive the Car you are going to always going to be in your mind that that part can fail during the drive and you will be somewhat ready to repspond to that.

But, my experience with my past Girl Friends and present Wife is that they are going to forget that it is possible for that part to fail while they are driving and if it does fail it is going to be a shock to them and delay their response time.

This mean there is a chance of their being an accident and someone getting hurt.

I say do not drive the Car until it is fixed.