08 ml350 power steering - hard then soft then hard then soft etc
#1
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08 ml350 power steering - hard then soft then hard then soft etc
Google has turned up nothing so I'll ask you guys. We have an 08 ml350 with about 80k on it. Recently took it from fl into the tn mountains and the power steering got weird. Kinda hard to describe but if we think of it like a clock, 1-2 would have PS, 2-3 would be hard (no ps), 3-4 would be smooth, and so on. Once back into Florida it was 100% normal. MB service tech checked for leaks (none) and the fluid was perfect. He said the rack is a common failure but I have no signs of anything wrong. A buddy of mine told me he's had a similar problem and it was the seals swelling at altitude and it was a sign of them failing.
Has this happened to anyone? Dealer quoted 2500ish to replace. Thanks guys
Has this happened to anyone? Dealer quoted 2500ish to replace. Thanks guys
#2
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2013 E350 4matic coupe, 2013 C300 4 matic
Something like that happened to my '08. At certain steering positions it felt very stiff and then released. I drove it like that from Canada to California (it was OK at centre) and then had it looked at. They said the PS pump was gone and replaced it. It was fine for 2 weeks until in the middle of a turn at a busy LA intersection I could hardly turn the wheel at one spot on the clock. Good thing my wife wasn't driving as she could not have turned the wheel. Back to the dealer and finally a fix. The U joint on the steering column shaft was gone. It would almost lock up in certain positions. The tech put in a vice to show me. I'm sure that's what ruined the first pump trying to turn the steering column. It's now been fine for 2 years.
Last edited by jsmith18; 08-17-2014 at 11:57 AM.
#3
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Thanks for your input buddy. I'm sure that's much better than a rack replacement. Mine too is fine at center and is a pain in the *** driving around town and pulling into parking spaces. I'm assuming it's something smaller as I have no leaks and no loss of fluids. Ill report back when my Indy shop inspects it this week
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2013 E350 4matic coupe, 2013 C300 4 matic
If it's the same problem and it sounds so familiar, be careful. I got fooled with the new pump as it had enough strength to overcome the problem until it locked up in the intersection and I almost ran into a couple of cars. Good luck and report back.
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2013 E350 4matic coupe, 2013 C300 4 matic
But do keep an eye on your pump performance as the locked column joint took out my first pump before the found the real culprit.
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W123 300CD, R107 560SL, W211 E320
I know this is a Benz forum but .....
Identical problem on my F150 pickup. Fixed by spray lube on the steering u-joint. Have to do it once-in-a-while (every couple years.
Btw, I have two Benz also. one of which is a 2008. Have yet to encounter this problem on it.
Identical problem on my F150 pickup. Fixed by spray lube on the steering u-joint. Have to do it once-in-a-while (every couple years.
Btw, I have two Benz also. one of which is a 2008. Have yet to encounter this problem on it.
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texas008 (04-17-2024)