cpbc55

So on Friday I started getting typical "uh-oh" symptoms of power steering failure -- lots of noise, vibration in the wheel, stiffer feedback when turning. I checked the fluid level and it didn't even register on the dipstick. Fortunately, my brother (MBworld user Saintz) happened to have a can of OEM power steering fluid laying around. Topped it off and hoped that would be the end of it.

Yesterday afternoon it started again, so I checked the reservoir - not completely empty but the fluid was frothy and well below the MIN line on the dipstick. When I got home and parked I noticed that when the wheel was turned all the way, it was just spewing fluid all over the place.

So I dropped it off at the local third-party repair shop this morning... They tell me that the high-pressure line is "wearing out", MB part number 209-466-00-81. This is apparently a dealer-only part (and the local dealers don't have it). They're going to have to order it in, and it won't be here until Thursday, and it's about $500 total parts and labor.

Has anybody else run into this problem? Any idea how difficult it is to DIY replace this (assuming I can even find the part -- ebay and google turn up zilch)? On a scale from one to totally, how screwed am I? I am thinking at this point it's probably worth it to just suck it up and have them do it -- I can't drive without power steering, I don't want to damage the rack, and I'm running out of replacement fluid.

91RS

I've seen lines leak before, so it is possible. They usually leak where the hard line is crimped onto the rubber line. The part is fairly expensive ($200 at parts.com). I've never really looked at mine that well to see how it routes to tell you how difficult it would be to fit.

arekux

had same problem, eventually replaced power steering pump(did it myself), new pump is around $380.