Steering box adjustments
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 672
Likes: 15
From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
Steering box adjustments
Guys,I have adjusted the steering box to 150Ncm in the central position(MB spec is 100 - 160Ncm) with drag link disconnected.
There is no play in the central position however when you turn the wheels past half turn either direction there is a lot of play at the wheels, this is with the damper disconnected.
Is this normal or is the box worn?
There is a diagram is WIS showing the relationship between the central position and lock to lock, it shows when the central is approx. 120Ncm, then the rest of the lock to lock is around 60Ncm. I have 150Ncm central and 45Ncm lock to lock, so something doesn't add up right
The car has only done 94,000km's, the steering damper was shot, I wonder if this play would have caused a lot of work for the damper?...
Last edited by Pagz; Nov 9, 2015 at 03:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 672
Likes: 15
From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
Ok have found some evidence the play either side of central is normal, so have left the central adjustment at 150Ncm.
If you have never had your box adjusted I highly recommend it. Steering feels grounded and like a new car!
If you have never had your box adjusted I highly recommend it. Steering feels grounded and like a new car!
Banned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 0
Likes: 36
is it easy accessable to reach steering box with tools to tighten the nuts?
i had my steering damper replaced many years ago when the steering was mellow yello.
i thought the power steering was like that meaning very loose and sloppy, with the new steering damper it was a different car, although i liked the steering B4 with my worn out damper it had a goood feeling.
i had my steering damper replaced many years ago when the steering was mellow yello.
i thought the power steering was like that meaning very loose and sloppy, with the new steering damper it was a different car, although i liked the steering B4 with my worn out damper it had a goood feeling.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 672
Likes: 15
From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
Hello Dennis,
Adjustment is not at all easy,although it can be done without removing the primary right side cat, it would make it a lot easier as you need to remove the steering box heat shield.
To get access to the upper shield bolt I had to disconnect right side engine mount and jack the engine up. The draglink needs to be disconnected from the pitman arm.
There is a 19mm Jam nut with 6mm allen key in the centre, I made some special tools to undo this. you need to hold the jam nut while turning the screw anticlockwise in small increments to remove play,the Jam nut is a lock nut which makes it very tight and hard to turn. you do not want to over tighten at any stage or damage may occur, the steering wheel needs to be in central position, I used a Sykes Pickavant .1-3Nm torque gauge attached to the steering wheel bolt to get the correct values.
Agree'd steering damper makes a large difference also I installed a spare from clk55 but it sounds like it has a little air in it so will get a new one shortly!. I think if there is less play in the box then these dampers will last a lot longer
Adjustment is not at all easy,although it can be done without removing the primary right side cat, it would make it a lot easier as you need to remove the steering box heat shield.
To get access to the upper shield bolt I had to disconnect right side engine mount and jack the engine up. The draglink needs to be disconnected from the pitman arm.
There is a 19mm Jam nut with 6mm allen key in the centre, I made some special tools to undo this. you need to hold the jam nut while turning the screw anticlockwise in small increments to remove play,the Jam nut is a lock nut which makes it very tight and hard to turn. you do not want to over tighten at any stage or damage may occur, the steering wheel needs to be in central position, I used a Sykes Pickavant .1-3Nm torque gauge attached to the steering wheel bolt to get the correct values.
Agree'd steering damper makes a large difference also I installed a spare from clk55 but it sounds like it has a little air in it so will get a new one shortly!. I think if there is less play in the box then these dampers will last a lot longer
Banned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 0
Likes: 36
hey bro.
your car is a lowmileage, did you notice small or large play in steering at these miles?
my car feels very tight at 110000km's, i've only replaced a few smaller parts on my steering along with the steering damper, my car feels very tight with the new lowering suspension and bushings.
your car is a lowmileage, did you notice small or large play in steering at these miles?
my car feels very tight at 110000km's, i've only replaced a few smaller parts on my steering along with the steering damper, my car feels very tight with the new lowering suspension and bushings.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 672
Likes: 15
From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
I think it is low millage but all city streets with many turns!
Drag link is original and still is very tight,ball joints are stiff to move.
There was only a very small amount of play in the central location, though it took approx. 2-3 turns of adjustment to take up the slack which I thought was quite a lot. I read these box's should be adjusted regularly to maintain long life, if so MB should have made adjuster on the bottom side
Drag link is original and still is very tight,ball joints are stiff to move.
There was only a very small amount of play in the central location, though it took approx. 2-3 turns of adjustment to take up the slack which I thought was quite a lot. I read these box's should be adjusted regularly to maintain long life, if so MB should have made adjuster on the bottom side
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 392
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From: Australia
W202 C43 1999
Hello Dennis,
Adjustment is not at all easy,although it can be done without removing the primary right side cat, it would make it a lot easier as you need to remove the steering box heat shield.
To get access to the upper shield bolt I had to disconnect right side engine mount and jack the engine up. The draglink needs to be disconnected from the pitman arm.
There is a 19mm Jam nut with 6mm allen key in the centre, I made some special tools to undo this. you need to hold the jam nut while turning the screw anticlockwise in small increments to remove play,the Jam nut is a lock nut which makes it very tight and hard to turn. you do not want to over tighten at any stage or damage may occur, the steering wheel needs to be in central position, I used a Sykes Pickavant .1-3Nm torque gauge attached to the steering wheel bolt to get the correct values.
Agree'd steering damper makes a large difference also I installed a spare from clk55 but it sounds like it has a little air in it so will get a new one shortly!. I think if there is less play in the box then these dampers will last a lot longer
Adjustment is not at all easy,although it can be done without removing the primary right side cat, it would make it a lot easier as you need to remove the steering box heat shield.
To get access to the upper shield bolt I had to disconnect right side engine mount and jack the engine up. The draglink needs to be disconnected from the pitman arm.
There is a 19mm Jam nut with 6mm allen key in the centre, I made some special tools to undo this. you need to hold the jam nut while turning the screw anticlockwise in small increments to remove play,the Jam nut is a lock nut which makes it very tight and hard to turn. you do not want to over tighten at any stage or damage may occur, the steering wheel needs to be in central position, I used a Sykes Pickavant .1-3Nm torque gauge attached to the steering wheel bolt to get the correct values.
Agree'd steering damper makes a large difference also I installed a spare from clk55 but it sounds like it has a little air in it so will get a new one shortly!. I think if there is less play in the box then these dampers will last a lot longer
how did you check the torque? Where did you attach to and what did you turn?
