C36 AMG, C43 AMG (W202) 1995 - 2000

C43 Rack & Pinion

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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 11:38 PM
  #1  
eFifty5AMG's Avatar
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
C43 Rack & Pinion

Can it be done (without extensive hacking)? I would like to know if there is a way to install a rack & pinion setup possibly from a W210 onto the W202s?
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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 11:58 PM
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1999 AMG C43
does your car have steering issues? maybe a rebuild would help? a DIY thread with pictures would be nice too
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 12:38 AM
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
Originally Posted by mickey13
does your car have steering issues? maybe a rebuild would help? a DIY thread with pictures would be nice too
No issues. I've rebuilt everything, but I'm just not satisfied. I have already rebuilt using Lemforder upper control arms, complete steering/drag link, ball joints, idler bushing, steering stabilizer, lower control arm bushings, hub bearings, & tightened steering box. Euro springs & Bilstein sports. Now I'm running Hedgehog adjustable control arms & Hedgehog poly lower control arm bushings (admittedly a bit too stiff for my daily usage), but it's still a bit bland & doesn't seem as precise & sharp as I'd like. Which makes me believe it's just the nature of the recirculating ball. The 210 E55 is far more enjoyable to drive and I think the rack & pinion plays a huge part.
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 02:15 AM
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Sounds pretty tight. Do you have lightweight rims too?

I really don't know if you can squeeze a R&P in, a bit beyond my technical expertise. First question I guess, aside from fitment is whether it would affect BAS/ESP. Where exactly is the steering angle sensor located, would a R&P play nice with the electronics?
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 05:33 AM
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12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Originally Posted by eFifty5AMG
Can it be done (without extensive hacking)? I would like to know if there is a way to install a rack & pinion setup possibly from a W210 onto the W202s?
I have never heard of someone having succeeded with this type of conversion. However there is someone on a UK forum who has done some good things with his 43 and this specific question is in the thinking process, so perhaps more concrete will be out later.

I believe this was done in a W201...
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 06:30 AM
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Originally Posted by eFifty5AMG
No issues. I've rebuilt everything, but I'm just not satisfied. I have already rebuilt using Lemforder upper control arms, complete steering/drag link, ball joints, idler bushing, steering stabilizer, lower control arm bushings, hub bearings, & tightened steering box. Euro springs & Bilstein sports. Now I'm running Hedgehog adjustable control arms & Hedgehog poly lower control arm bushings (admittedly a bit too stiff for my daily usage), but it's still a bit bland & doesn't seem as precise & sharp as I'd like. Which makes me believe it's just the nature of the recirculating ball. The 210 E55 is far more enjoyable to drive and I think the rack & pinion plays a huge part.
hey bud

did you also replace that shorty shock absorber that looks like a bicycle pump next to the draglink?
if you haven't replaced it your power steering wudd feel very loose and very comfy.
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 07:22 AM
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From: Henrico, Virginia
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Originally Posted by eFifty5AMG
Can it be done (without extensive hacking)? I would like to know if there is a way to install a rack & pinion setup possibly from a W210 onto the W202s?
"without extensive hacking". To start with there is nothing to mount the rack to on the W202. The W210 has a subframe that crosses under the rear of the oil pan; the rack is mounted to that. To mount the rack on a W202 some sort of structural member would have to be created and IMHO, that would be "extensive hacking".
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 08:05 AM
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From: San Diego
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@mickey13 I have 18" Carlsson 1/6 Evo wheels for it-not necessarily light wheels, but iirc they weigh nearly the same weight as a 17" monoblock.

@kowalski Yep, the steering shock has been replaced too.

@DRB if you're referring to the LS swapped W201, that's what made me really start to wonder if a project like this was worth the extra effort.
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 08:57 AM
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when my steering shock was ready for retirement, I felt my power steering to be very mellow down without tension like I was on a sky high trip taking LSD with Lucy and her diamonds
power steering was very comfy coz there wasn't any resistance in the steering shock, I thought this was original Mercdes comfort.
With the new steering shock installed I had to work more with my arms to turn the wheel which I first didn't like very much.
It was more of an adapt to the situation with the new shock.

Now there is no problems with it anymore, but I liked the very soft sloppy feel with the worn shock before

Last edited by KJI3jflarryfe93; Mar 15, 2017 at 09:02 AM.
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