I didn't get the response I was looking for on my last question so here it is again. I am removing the steering box on my '82 300sd. Is there any tricks that I need to know like do the tie rods HAVE to be removed first? Are there any other things I need to know. It looks straight forward but do not want to start something I can't finish. Also I have heard that ATF should not be used anymore, is this true?
Thanks

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82 300SD 100K
91 Caprice SS
92 Jetta TD

Depending what you are going to do after its out, either the tierods must be removed or the pitman arm itself. If you are resealing the box, the pitman arm must come off anyway so I would take the aarm off. Since that is about 98% of all the reasons we take gearboxs off, we usually do it that way.

Either way will take some special pullers. Taking the rods off is difficult without hurting the boots.

Proper reassembly should be done with the key out and the steering wheel locked straight ahead. The center position of the gearbox is determined by removing the access plug and turning the box till the dimple in the reciprocating ball carrier comes before the access hole. There is a tool to lock this position but care and checking it afterward do just fine.

If you remove the pitman arm be sure it is marked for reassembly in exactly the same position.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

Thanks Steve for your response. Very helpful. The reason I am taking it out is to get it tightened up inside. I was told by my local MB mech. that he can take the slack out of the box by doing some adjustments inside. So I am going to take the box out myself and let the MB man do the dismantling. I take by your answer that removing the pitman arm with the tie rods still attached that there is no problem getting the box out around them. Is this correct?

Thanks, Mark

I'd be real interested in what your MD tech can do. All I've heard is that if you can't take the play out with the adjustment screw, replacement of the pinion and sector are required.

The way he explained it to me is that there are some bearings that likely have come loose either from the factory or from some slight wear aand can be tighented. The adjustment screw does not affect this particular part. I am very vague on this so I cannot explain it better but he seemed very confident that he could take the slack out of my box without having to completely rebuild. If someone thinks he is blowing sunshine up you know where I would be happy to hear about it before I go to the trouble.

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82 300SD 100K
91 Caprice SS
92 Jetta TD