Well, now that we've saved the old boat from the scrap heap (see: "How long will 240D run at zero oil pressure?"), I've noticed that the power steering pump is somewhat noisy at low RPM. Not cavitating, as I know what that sounds like, and the reservoir is plenty full. More like a scraping, dry bearing type of noise. Goes away at maybe 1500 RPM. Any clues? Has anyone seen a pump through to the end of it's life? These things are plenty expensive, so I'd prefer to just let it run the course, if nothing disastrous happens. Or are they cheaply rebuild-able?

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Larry D
'76 240D @120k

There is a bushing in the front that can fail. If so, just go and get a used one. This is one of the few things I will put in used.

Try varying the belt tension, it has helped in the past.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
300E
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM
OWNER OF MB AUTOWERKS .COM

[This message has been edited by Benzmac (edited 10-12-2000).]

I have seen a MB pump through to the end of it's life - not pretty. It made a little squallerin sound, then let go. The front bushing Benzmac referred to had frozen up on mine after the front seal had gone south. The loudest of the noise came when the bushing cooked to the shaft and spun.

The dealer wanted $650.00 for a rebuilt. I found a very good used one at the dismantler for $50.00. Came with the mounting bracket installed (wrong one however, but no biggie). Not terribly difficult to replace, but be sure to have a 14 mm hex drive socket to remove the resevoir from the top of the pump body if not equipped with the remote resevoir.

If you do play with the belt tension, do not get the belt too tight as this will hasten the pump failure. The Techs here all agreed that the only times they had seen these Vickers pumps fail as mine did, was due to over tightened belts. Turned out, the P/O had installed the wrong belt, one which was too small for the application. The pump was doomed to fail.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

Mike might live in the Sunshine state now, but you can hear that Texas raisin' comin' through. "Squallerin sound"? I love it!

One more thing I would add to the power steering pump saga. After getting a good pump and getting the belt tension correct as they said, don't use ATF for fluid. Go to your local parts store and get some of the oil marked "Power Steering Fluid". Modern ATF has additives that are good for transmissions and not good for the seals in your power steering. The Power Steering Fluid is a little more expensive than ATF, but it will save your pump. Been there, done that, and lost a pump because of it.

The original pump on my 240D made it past the half million mile mark though, so it don't think of it as a chincy (see my Texan is comin' through too) item. And as Benzmac said, I got a used pump.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, 533K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

yes its true it would not die easily I put a rag on it it to put it out and it smouldered for half an hour till it was cool enough to touch What a stink! ..as it was siezed I cut the belt to get home with 501 77 Caddy ..Im lurking on this thread because my 240D pump has been playing Jinge lebells at idle recently the fluid is not too bad looking and not red I would like to try the filter and flush it with good PS fluid as recomended