Are 2001 W210 Steering Racks the same for E320 and E430? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

EricSilver · #1 10-19-2018, 05:58 PM

Car: 2001 E430 4Matic

I a may need to replace my steering rack on my '01 E430 due to some noticeable play. Pelican lists the same part number for the E320 and E430 4Matics (Part #: 210-460-39-00-MBZ) but another supplier made a remark about the rack they have being only for the E320 because that is a V6 vs the E430's V8 (which did not seem to make much sense to me since the power steering pump does the actual work). Nonetheless, I am looking for confirmation.

Also, do these cars have steering gear boxes like they W124's did, or is the only solution replacing the steering rack?

Zulfiqar · #2 10-22-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricSilver

Car: 2001 E430 4Matic

I a may need to replace my steering rack on my '01 E430 due to some noticeable play. Pelican lists the same part number for the E320 and E430 4Matics (Part #: 210-460-39-00-MBZ) but another supplier made a remark about the rack they have being only for the E320 because that is a V6 vs the E430's V8 (which did not seem to make much sense to me since the power steering pump does the actual work). Nonetheless, I am looking for confirmation.

Also, do these cars have steering gear boxes like they W124's did, or is the only solution replacing the steering rack?

The racks are the same, for the play, check the rack bushings themselves, and the coupler too. My W210 had a strange play in it while driving which was the sloppy steering rack bushings. They were not too difficult to swap out.

EricSilver · #3 10-22-2018, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

The racks are the same, for the play, check the rack bushings themselves, and the coupler too. My W210 had a strange play in it while driving which was the sloppy steering rack bushings. They were not too difficult to swap out.

Thank you. I did not know for sure it had bushings but now a lot is starting to make sense. Here is what immediately preceded it:

1. Right side inner and outer tie rods (about two months ago).
2. Left side inner and outer tie rods (five days ago)
3. Alignment (five days ago)

After the first tie rod installation, steering was on-center and firm, except to the left (where the original tie rods were). But it was not at all bad.

In the past two weeks, I noticed an odd behavior on hard right turns: The steering wheel would tend to stick a bit in that position, as if being held in place. A soft nudge to the left would bring it back; or it would simply return on its own. It had the feel of being loosely stuck in a rubber ring --the only way I can describe it. This gradually diminished over the course of a few days.

When I had the left-side tie rods done, it was a different installer who did not count the original inner rod lock nut turns before installing it. When done, the steering wheel was cocked to the left quite a bit (enough to throw ABS/BAS/ESL codes due to steering angle), but since I was getting the alignment immediately thereafter, I would let them deal with it, which they did.

However, that is when the real slop occurred and I am convinced the alignment shop deliberately or inadvertently did something to cause it. (They were too eager to point out the small amount of play in the steering rack, which does not seem nearly enough to translate into the range of motion on the steering wheel; and how they could replace the rack at a cost of $1400. Hmmmm...)

Note: The most play in the steering wheel is to the right -- the same direction it was sticking in as described above. (The stickiness is now gone.) There was no play in that direction prior to the alignment. Is it possible for those bushings to shift or erode?

Your conclusion about the bushings and/or coupling sounds most plausible.

Zulfiqar · #4 10-22-2018, 05:51 PM

also dont omit to check the control arm bushings (front hydraulic ones), when they go bad the car will tend to go towards the road banking and also cause a sticking steering when turning sharply at slow speed.

Also make sure you are using the correct fluid there, W210 uses ATF for the steering oil, if you dont like the red stinky stuff, you can buy a liter of febi branded fluid from napa and flush it out like any other car, using liquids called "power steering fluid" from most american manufacturers can cause issues on a W210

EricSilver · #5 10-23-2018, 01:25 PM

Thanks again.

I had it checked out today and all was tight -- except for the left tie rod lock nut, which the aligners did not secure!

Still is not as tight as I would like, with about a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch of play from left to right of center. I am still thinking steering rack bushings since their condition cannot be determined visually.