W124 steering gremlins....
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Northwest NJ
'90 300E Blk/Tan
W124 steering gremlins....
I have a front end gremlin that comes and goes in my '90 300E. I think it is idler arm related, but I'm not sure. You can start out driving the car in the morning and it is fine. You stop somewhere for coffee and it starts to act up. You park it for 1/2 day at work, and at lunchtime it is fine again. Might not act up for another two days. Then it comes back. Next day, fine again. Here are the symptoms that come and go, seemingly randomly, with the car:
Does this sound like an idler arm issue? Anyone know if there is a good DIY written anywhere for rebuilding the idler arm in a W124 ?
- Railroad tracks (wanders left and right slightly with the grooves in the road) when wheels are straight, but when turning is stable as can be.
- Feels a little sluggish on turn in - like there is slop side to side.
- Sometimes makes a noise when turning hard left or right that sounds like you are turning a steel rod inside a tight, dry, rubber bushing.
- Seems better in colder temperatures, acts up more frequently when warmer outside, or on the tail end of a long drive (hour or more away)
Does this sound like an idler arm issue? Anyone know if there is a good DIY written anywhere for rebuilding the idler arm in a W124 ?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 303
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From: Northern California
It changes all the time
You never report back to the group and share the answers to your problems. We're still waiting to hear the results of your chain tensioner and shifting problems unless I missed some postings. I hope your not one of those who uses this site and never gives back.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 462
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From: Boulder, CO
86 W124
once again, check the sway bar mounts, bushings and integrity of that whole system. Check strut mounts as they can fail like you say and also check that the spring has full coils top to bottom as sometimes half a coil can break off the bottom. Its either spring, strut or sway. Idler arm never goes out, as far as i've heard.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 122
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From: Northwest NJ
'90 300E Blk/Tan
BTW....the shifting turned out to be caused by the vacuum line to the modulator being barely in the rubber receiver. I found it when I crawled under to adjust the modulator. It wasn't loose, but it wasn't fully connected either. Seated that line in more firmly and no more rough shifts.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 303
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From: Northern California
It changes all the time
Wasn't really necessary to replace the tensioner. You just needed to install it correctly. Oh well at least you got it runnibg right. That's the important thing.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Northwest NJ
'90 300E Blk/Tan
I know, but I figured "125k miles on it, need a new sealing ring anyway (lost the original), have to take it out anyway, cheap - just put a new one in."
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 122
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From: Northwest NJ
'90 300E Blk/Tan
The car had a bad set of tires on it and they were pulling, but none of this other stuff was evident. So I took it to have the front end aligned and they found that the aligment was in spec, but the belts in the tires were bad. So we had them put on a new set of Pirelli P4's, and about a week later all this started. I pulled the wheels and checked wheel bearings, balljoints, tie rods, etc.. Aside from the fact that the rubber boots on the tie rod ends were split from age, everything looked fine and felt solid. Even the tie rod ends with the split boots still seem to have plenty of grease in there and it is not dried out yet. The only thing that was giving off ANY noise when my wife turned the wheel left and right with me under the car was the strut, which made a noise each time she stopped/started and the shaft started rotating.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 122
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From: Northwest NJ
'90 300E Blk/Tan
Update
Well, replaced the tie rods, intermediate rod, steering damper, and sway bar bushings this weekend. Tie rods were the noise source, at least the major contributor, and the looseness I felt. The front end feels tight and stable now, and there is no more noises when turning sharply like before.
Mostly, the rest was "PM", because the parts weren't shot, but they were worn, and I had new ones so while I was in the neighborhood.....
Lower left front ball joint did grumble a little when I turned the knuckle to install the tie rod, but it is still tight and is making no noise or clunks while driving, so I guess it is probably not long from replacement but is OK for now.
Mostly, the rest was "PM", because the parts weren't shot, but they were worn, and I had new ones so while I was in the neighborhood.....
Lower left front ball joint did grumble a little when I turned the knuckle to install the tie rod, but it is still tight and is making no noise or clunks while driving, so I guess it is probably not long from replacement but is OK for now.
