Ok. I got it now. Thanks for the tip!

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On Apr 18, 2012, at 8:49 PM, Jaime Kopchinski <jaime...@gmail.com> wrote:

Until it looks clean, yes... it takes some time to flush out 30 year old
fluid!

Jaime


On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 8:23 PM, Dimitri Seretakis <dsereta...@yahoo.com>wrote:

Whoa! You replace the PS fluid at every oil change?

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On Apr 18, 2012, at 8:18 PM, Jaime Kopchinski <jaime...@gmail.com> wrote:

Yes, when you reach the point that the adjustment screw won't back out
anymore, its time to rebuild/replace the box.  I've only experienced this
once after owning dozens of these cars.  You can usually adjust it to be
perfect or at least acceptable.

There is a factory procedure for adjusting the box... it involves a torque
wrench at the steering wheel and removal of the pitman arm.  Its a nice way
to do it, if you have the tools and the time.

But again, make sure you're changing the fluid frequently.  Most cars have
never seen a fluid change, which certainly doesn't help the life of the
box.  I generally suck out what I can and replace it every time I change
the oil.  I keep a gallon of generic ATF on hand just for this purpose.

Jaime


On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 8:12 PM, Dimitri Seretakis <dsereta...@yahoo.com
wrote:

So when should a steering box be replaced? Is there a time when you just
can't adjust out the slop?

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 18, 2012, at 8:01 PM, Jaime Kopchinski <jaime...@gmail.com> wrote:

Its pretty straight forward to adjust the box... I do it all the time, as
recently as last night on a 83 300D.  Heres the method in detail:

Start with a 19mm socket and a long set of extensions to reach the adjuster
nut.  Loosen the nut with a breaker bar or ratchet just a bit... maybe
1/4-1/2 turn, just so its loose.
Replace the 19mm socket with 6mm hex key and insert it into the adjustment
screw. With a 19mm wrench, hold the nut while you back the adjustment screw
out.  Start with 1/4 or 1/2 turn.  Your turning the adjustment out, counter
clockwise.
Now tighten up the 19mm nut again.

Go drive it and see how it feels.  You'll probably need to back it out a
bit more.

If you back it out too much, it'll bind a bit in the middle.  This makes it
very hard to keep the car tracking straight on a straight road, but you
might not notice it much driving around turns, etc.  Check it carefully.

This is also an excellent time to replace the power steering filter and
fluid.  I usually just suck whatever I can out of the reservoir, then
replace it with new ATF.  If its really foul, do this a few times, running
the engine to circulate the fluid in between.

Good luck,
Jaime


On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 6:57 PM, Rich Thomas <
richthomas79td...@constructivity.net> wrote:

OK the SD is all finished, I had to replace LF brake caliper as one piston
was pretty much frozen.  All new suspension and steering bits, an alignment
done.  Car drives well except there is still a fair amount of slop in the
steering.  The u-joint on the shaft just ahead of the box is fine, I can
rotate the steering shaft right at the box and no response from the box.
It is not a lot, but maybe 2in at the top of the steering wheel, and it is
really dead.

I am thinking the steering box needs to be adjusted, but with all the
scary stories about buggering the box I am reluctant to do that.  But with
all the work, and it still feeling a little sloppy, well, I would like to
get rid of that slop.  If the box is already shot, then adjusting it would
not do much to make it worse I figure, unless the way it is is sorta the
way it should be (I think not).

On another subject, I put in (another) air cleaner mount, but the air
cleaner is shaking quite a bit at idle, which I figure will break this one
at some point.  I have no idea if the engine damper is working correctly or
not, should I just get a new one and replace it?

--R



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Jaime Kopchinski
http://www.jaimekop.com/
_______________________________________
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For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
_______________________________________
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To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
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-- 
Jaime Kopchinski
http://www.jaimekop.com/
_______________________________________
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
_______________________________________
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