A while back I pulled the steering box from my 85 TD to replace the input shaft seal that was leaking. The steering has always been a little harder than other W123s that I've had/have. I have swapped pumps, undone tie rods to try and find the problem. Everything points to the steering box and as I reread the other thread here on steering box replacement, it occurred to me that when I pulled the drain plug on mine, nothing came out. I had removed the P/F fluid from the pump but as I think back, something should have drained out, no? Any ideas?

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Something probably should have drained out. If it was leaking, it might have run itself dry?

Had anyone messed with the "slack adjustment"? You can tighten these steering boxes to the point that they won't return to center.

__________________
$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I did, had some minor play on steering wheel,easily adjustable by the nut
on the box...but you have to have a helper in the car "noticing" the slack
and reduction of it by moving the nut.

IIRC I had to go 1/5 CCW with the nut.....

afterward you have to try full left and right before driving

.

__________________
w126 500SEC gen II euro, powered by OM617 turbo stolen from 84 300SD 2.88 diff,EGR blinded
next wish/project: w114 coupe OM603 powered

These links should answer all of your steering gearbox questions.


Steering wheel play (slop)
Steering wheel play (slop) - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

Pics of Steering Box Swap
Pics of Steering Box Swap - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

Help! Steering box input shaft clunking
Help! Steering box input shaft clunking - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

Photo of steering box adjustment nut?
Photo of steering box adjustment nut? - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

How to reseal a MB steering gear
(Without loosing your balls)
Written by David Petryk
Photos by Gerard Buhlon




.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
https://whunter.carrd.co/

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Since the leak was at the input end and it didn't leak unless the engine was running I figured the box would have been full, nothing came out:confused

I adjusted the "slack adjustment" when I got the car. Theres about an inch of play in the wheel. I did slack it off (clockwise) just to see if that made any difference, no change so I set it back. The wheel returns just fine considering its not turning as easy as "normal".

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Thanks, good info. I remember several threads where fluid came out when the drain plug was pulled, I'm wondering if I need to replace the box of if anyone has any suggestions, blow it out with compressed air? I really don't want to pull that box again.

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I'm assuming you thought you were removing a bolt to drain the fluid when in fact it is "officially" there to allow you to place in a centering pin...

...it can however be used to drain the whole system. See post #5 in this thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/303379-what-feeling-will-properly-adjusted-w123-w116-w126-power-steering-box.html

__________________
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!

TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.

When the wheels are centered and thus box is centered there is no way for the fluid to drain. The centering plug (i.e. drain plug) opens to the side of the working piston, the piston must be moved otherwise no fluid will come out.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Very nice write up with good pics. Thanks for posting it. That would be a good winter project, but I must admit, don't think I would tackle that job on the only steering box I had. I do have a fairly low mileage parts car that has a nice tight steering box.

The tightens it not something you would be alarmed about and probably not take much notice of but its a LITTLE harder than power steering normally is.
I thought maybe the new input shaft seal was just squeezing the shaft and it would loosen up.




I did remove the plug to insert my homemade centering pin.

What I gather from martureo's post is that since I didn't turn the wheel, nothing would come out. doh

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

OK, thanks, So that addresses my thought that "no fluid coming out the drain hole had something to do with the steering being a little tighter than normal".

I didn't turn the wheel, just pulled the plug and put it pin in.

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Turning the wheel is indeed the secret - I didn't mean for you to start on a full rebuild! Just to read post #5.

__________________
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!