trikoid

Currently, my steering is loose. If I am on a straight road, tilted slightly on the right side, my steering needs to be rather to the left. If I switch lanes to the left lane (which is slightly tilted to the left), I need to quickly move the steering wheel about 0.5-1.0 inches before the proper amount of steering is achieved, and not much happens while I am moving the steering. It's like a dead zone. It reminds me of the crappy American cars I've driven with loose sloppy steering. And I am sure it is worse than last summer.

I have checked the power steering level multiple times and it is fine. Power steering also seems to be weaker than I remember too.

My suspicion is this: sometime in DEC or JAN, when it was -5 deg out this winter, I started up and the steering was super stiff (no power assist yet due to cold), and instead of waiting for it to warm up, I just turned the wheel firmly until it moved, but it made some sort of loud click/clunk noise I think (it's been a while).

Any ideas? Steering rack need to be replaced or adjusted? I heard that the W208s had some bolts that needed to be torqued down in the front left tire area, but my car has no such bolts.

What's this going to cost me??

trikoid

bump...doesn't anyone have an idea?

Klinh

My opinion, for sure your toes is out and that's why it tilted slightly to one side. When this happen, your steering wheel will feel weaker. Just get an alignment and your steering will be tighter.

As for the "bolts" you're talking about on the W208, it has the ball circulate style steering and the W209 has the rack opinion steering.

trikoid

I brought it to the dealer and the guy seemed to think that the amount of play in the steering was normal, and that with the number of linkages in the steering, that the play increases with age and that's just the way it goes.

No way! I am 65 mph on the highway, and I get a little dip in the road and I need to quickly turn to take up the slack in the steering. My minivan steers nicer than this!

I'm wondering if this is probably the steering rack, some bushing or what.

Anyone else have loose steering?

It's especially bad with wide tires on the front, like my 245/40R17 (which do fit the front). They follow the road a whole lot, and I can't control the car well. It's very fatiguing!

ZEEK

it could be a bushing as well, if you took it to a dealer, didnt they check the front end? Get an alignment as well and see if that fixes a problem.

moondust

LOL.. I think you mean 'rack and pinion'

OP - How many miles on the car?

Supafly

check your tierod ends...

usually theres play in the steering if the tierod end bushing is toast...

jack up car, reach behind the wheel, and grab the tierod...try to move it up and down, if it does, replace it.

Davideo

I know the Tire Rack told me not to get wider than 225's in the front... has this problem been since you got those wide front tires? Just trying to help, here...

trikoid

The problem is most noticeable on the highway. I think it seems that with the adjustable-assist steering, that there is less pressure or something and thus more give. At a stop, slight wiggling doesn't move the steering wheel much. At 40+, slight wiggling moves the wheel, and not much else.

Currently I have 225s on the front, and I still have play. It was definitely worse on the 245s - the road contours would steer the car and my steering corrections had to quickly work through the slop in the steering to make stability. It wasn't like this last year.

I still think it must stem from the time in January at 5 degrees outside when I turned it hard before it wanted it, and I heard the steering click/clunk loudly.

I'll bet it's some expensive steering rack thing, or some linkage up to the steering column. I''m not thinking it could be tirerods or something like that but I dunno.

Supafly

just this alone, lets me believe it is a thrust arm bushing...if it clunks loudly (sounds like deep tone metal on metal)
usually happens on turns, slowing down quickly, and small bumps in the road.

trikoid

It doesn't clunk now, just the one time in the winter. Just the one, big clunk that sounded like maybe I did something expensive to my car.

johnny-cat

I have had this same issue in my W202, my R170, and my W208. It has something to do with the crappy components related to the recirculating ball steering system. I wish I knew exactly what the issue was, but I don't know yet myself. Going to try control arm bushings soon. But the funny thing, never does this happen to a rack and pinion system. My 2004 VW jetta is far superior regarding the steering.

gaazmon

This sounds like my issue with the steering rack going bad. I get a loud deep clunk sometimes when turning at low speeds. Does yours also get firm if you turn one way and then quickly turn it the opposite direction (imagine trying to go around a traffic cone).

I agree. I feel the steering components on these C, CLK, SLK vehicles are very weak.

irokdastar

before you start replacing parts take it to a any mechanic and have them look at your suspension . It might just be a bushing . That usually is the culprit . and if you replace any part get an alignment done .

Eclasspain