ANY WAY TO JUST LOOK @ IT AND BE ABLE TO TELL IF ITS NOT WORKING RIGHT? or not/

I don't know of a way just to look at it, maybe someone else does.

one wat to tell is to look and see if the adjuster is all the way to the end of the reverse threaded rod.
paul

just an idea- you said that you are pretty sure of the problem, but in my 1986 300E, i heard a similar screaming noise to what you described, but only at high speeds. i was told that the old mercedes' have poor speedo's, and can get noisy with age, the problem only worsening with the onset of cold weather. just a thought though...