Just had the squeaky steering tsb done for a total of $290. It did absolutely nothing. The squeak is there, loud as ever.

The temps haven't been that cold either. Only like 28 degrees.


what a joke this car has become......

 

well after looking into it further, it seems like the squeek is coming from the steering wheel/column connection, not the rack or anywhere under the dash.

 

The ony way to get rid of the noise is to replace this part that goes around the pinion in the steering rack (do not suggest doing. really hard and not worth it) or just to replace the steering rack. The only reason that MBUSA has a tsb for it is because they dont want to pay for the replacement of steering racks.

 

so then can you explain to me why the noise sounds like its coming from the steering wheel to column connection, not further underneath the dash or underneath the car?

If the old rack squeaks, why wouldn't the new one?

 

Oliver, I haven't read all your posts, but have you taken it to an indie mechanic and asked what it would take to fix the issue without replacing the entire steering rack...? It's worth the trip instead of asking us on here where we don't have access to your specific car.

 

one thing you might want to try before having the steering rack replaced is to have the power steering fluid flushed and new fluid installed. I have seen that take care of many squeaking steering problems..

 

I took mine in to my dealer for the squeaky steering wheel countless times only for them to grease the steering wheel column, which resolved the problem only for a short while. Finally, the car was serviced at another M-B dealer and they replaced the steering rack. That resolved the problem permanently.

 

Yeah, its looking like I might have the replace the rack. I can find a short rack for about 345, so I'll probably just do that.

 

did a mechanic confirm that..? couldn't help myself

 

I really suggest you guys find a place to flush the power steering fluid before wasting a bunch of money on a steering rack. It's alot cheaper.

 

flushed the fluid last night.

no change.

Fju, I did my own investigating.

 

...which has led you to believe you need to change the steering rack, right? you should just suck it up and take it to a qualified mechanic...at least so we won't have to hear about how awful the steering is and how nothing on this earth will ever fix it. or maybe just replace the rack already so we can listen to your "I-told-you-so's" after the problem goes away!

All seriousness, i hope whatever you do works, but don't blame the car or MB corporate if replacing the steering rack doesn't work, since you're doing your own investigating.