I'm under the presumption that I have not overadjusted it since I never got to the point where turning the input shaft to the box produced an immediate movement in the output shaft. Like I said, there was about 6 inches or so of play at the steering wheel when I got the car and tightening (or loosening as it were) the adjuster as much as possible got it down to around an inch or so at max adjustment (there was a linear correlation to the tightening of the adjuster and the reduction in play). I've had the car for a year or so and have yet to ever see it where "turn wheel left" equals "car turns left" or at least in an immediate reponse to a change in direction. It's not HORRIBLE now... (I grew up on farm tractors where steering was always a little loose) But it's certainly no comparison to ANY rack and pinion steering on ANY vehicle I have ever driven. Maybe someday someone can give me a satisfactory explanation as to why Ma Benz thinks (or though, I think she changed a couple years ago, right?) gearboxes are better than rack and pinion? I don't exactly understand what's going on in that gearbox, but from my standpoint, there's a lot of crap in the way with either rack and pinion, or gearbox, and I've never had a rack and pinion die, let alone ever need adjusting and it always was of the linear steering motion instead of dead on center like these...
So.. I'm ASSuming that the box was simply pretty much whooped when I got it and some idiot made it looser at some point, and I have gotten it as tight as possible, but not to a "tight" spot, but that after adjusting the bolt out that far, I'm simply putting too much strain on a seal or some such thing. I see it looks like I can head over about 30 minutes toward Mike Canfield's house and pick one up from an 83' 240D for about $58 that is supposedly an "A" grade. Suppose I'll try to do that this weekend or soon... Levi On 9/21/06, Chuck Landenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
BTDT. On my 116 SD, now living in Michigan, I overadjusted the steering box, developed a leak. Got one from Tri-Star Parts (used to be Pete's) for $95 here in Phoenix, had it rebuilt and installed. Problem went away! Chuck Phoenix AZ 1992 500E 1986 190E 2.3 16V On Sep 21, 2006, at 7:19 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Adjusting the box tighter by 6 inches is almost sure to push the > limits of > the shaft seal on the input shaft to the box. You WILL have a > leak there. > Your steering box is probably worn past the point of adjustment. > They say to > never try and get the last inch of play out of the steering wheel by > adjusting as it will bind the box up. You may also have a loose > idler arm and should > have someone turn the wheel while watching the components move. > > Check your oil, I bet you have a leak now. > > Regards, > > Jim Friesen > Phoenix AZ > 79 300SD, 262 K miles > 98 ML 320, 146 K miles > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
