Didn't break anything but I decided to adjust the steering on the gear box, so it could be super precise with no play. (or so I thought)

Well, now the car is the most unenjoyable thing I've ever driven, possibly dangerous, the steering is, it's hard to describe but it's over compensating and feels very coarse.

When turning slightly the wheel does not go back to center, a very odd experience.

If it ain't broke...

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

The adjustment on the steering box is NOT to adjust "play". It is to adjust friction and is best left untouched.

You are not the first to make such a mistake.

Search here for steering adjustment procedure.

It is complicated.

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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 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I am sorry to disagree with Rocky as he usually has it right, but the box is designed to be adjusted. It often needs adjsuting the first time prior to completing 100K miles.

Its probably just a bit too tight. Back your adjustment off an eighth of a turn and see if that doesn't free it up.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Did you turn it CW or CCW, in the 123 its CCW to tighten, CW reduces friction/slack.
If you loosend it thats what I would expect.
You only adjust a turn at a time, not more than 360 degrees.
I hope you can get it back to where it was ASAP beause you will increase wear on the internals like it is wallowing like that.

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

This may already have been covered as I have not read the other Posts.


If you get the adjustment too tight it causes you to do that over compensation. Same thing happened to me when I did the adjustment the first time.


Note there is supposed to be at least 1 inch of play back and forth. I cannot access the manual as I don't have the manual on my computer but that is what I remember.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Time to go back home and adjust it tonight!

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

More like a quarter of an inch play actually.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The FSM specifies how much effort it takes to turn the steering wheel. I forget the exact spec but it is only slightly less than my much heavier Dodge Ram with a 24V Cummins. Mercedes says to adjust with the box installed. Dodge says to have it on the bench.

Someone here did a complete rebuild write up and was building boxes as a service.

They are very long wearing. The 240d I sold to Greazzer had well over 300K on it and I adjusted it back to like new condition.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I assume these are of the recirculating ball type? They are known for being more durable and longer lasting than rack and pinion.

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1998 E300 turbodiesel

America's Rights and Freedoms Are Not The Enemy!

Yes. the ones in the benzes give really good feel too.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Probably true that the steering box may have been adjusted once or twice by now in a 30yo car but ....

Loose steering feel is almost always a function of steering component wear on our old cars. No amount of fiddling with the steering box will correct for loose tie rod joints or steering arms.

The recirculating ball steering on our cars will never have the precise feel of rack and pinion. The specification is 24mm (1 inch) or less at the steering wheel rim.

That 1" is in the FSM?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Lets us know if you get it fixed and how u got it fixed.

Plus what u did wrong if you figure that out.

We need MORE "solved" threads on here