rubber rubbing sound from steering wheel
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
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e320
rubber rubbing sound from steering wheel
I have a rubber rubbing sound coming from the steering wheel. It only happens after the car is driven for a while. There is no sound when I first start the car.
I took it to my mechanic, and he added some grease to the rubber boot, but that did not solve the problem.
My mechanic also found some information that mercedes recommended rerouting the high pressure power steering hose, and that will solve the problem.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
I took it to my mechanic, and he added some grease to the rubber boot, but that did not solve the problem.
My mechanic also found some information that mercedes recommended rerouting the high pressure power steering hose, and that will solve the problem.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
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From: Olivebranch, MS
2000 E 430, - sports pkg -
I too have a sound that comes from my steering column that sounds like the noise emitted when you clean glass with windex with a paper towel. Worse with the cold weather, and gets on my nerve but thankfully the weather is getting warmer. Indy mechanic has no idea. Keep us informed with your progress.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 531
Likes: 17
'08 CL600 with 152k km; '01 E430 4Matic with 433k km; '17 Porsche Cayenne with 130k km
It is a very common problem in these cars. Just gotta live with it unfortunately. The alternative would be to replace the entire steering column, albeit expensive. There's a number of older threads on this matter. Perhaps they'll be of more insight. Good luck!
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
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From: Olivebranch, MS
2000 E 430, - sports pkg -
Kinda urks you knowing the original price on my E-430 and other vehicles that I have owned such as the 89 honda CRX I had till 2000, and about 50+ thousand miles on it, yet the day I sold it not a creak any where!!!
tis the way it is -
tis the way it is -
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 17
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2004 E320 4matic
Almost a Member!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 48
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From: Abu Dhabi
E280 1998
After almost 2 years of owning this car and spending (and still spending) on fixes nearly same amount I bought it with $ 8000 I came to realize it has one of the worst quality issues.
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 8
From: Long Island, NY
01 E320
I get the noise too. Surprisingly I get the exact same noise on my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I got it on my 1999 Dodge Intrepid before I sold it. Seems like a DaimlerChrysler issue of that time.
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: The Sunshine State
01 W210 E Klasse | 02 W 463 G-Wagen | 06 Land Rover LR3 HSE
Mates,
I believe there is a very simple fix. Call your MB dealer and ask if they carry a product called lubrizol around $8 per bottle if yes all that is needed is to pull out the same amount of ps fluid as in the lubrizol bottle and replace it with the lubrizol this fixes the issue.
I found this fix on mbworld.org but unfortunately my dealer in NC does not carry this product. If any one of you can find it pm me as I could use one as well.
Cheers
I believe there is a very simple fix. Call your MB dealer and ask if they carry a product called lubrizol around $8 per bottle if yes all that is needed is to pull out the same amount of ps fluid as in the lubrizol bottle and replace it with the lubrizol this fixes the issue.
I found this fix on mbworld.org but unfortunately my dealer in NC does not carry this product. If any one of you can find it pm me as I could use one as well.
Cheers
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 531
Likes: 17
'08 CL600 with 152k km; '01 E430 4Matic with 433k km; '17 Porsche Cayenne with 130k km
Mates,
I believe there is a very simple fix. Call your MB dealer and ask if they carry a product called lubrizol around $8 per bottle if yes all that is needed is to pull out the same amount of ps fluid as in the lubrizol bottle and replace it with the lubrizol this fixes the issue.
I found this fix on mbworld.org but unfortunately my dealer in NC does not carry this product. If any one of you can find it pm me as I could use one as well.
Cheers
I believe there is a very simple fix. Call your MB dealer and ask if they carry a product called lubrizol around $8 per bottle if yes all that is needed is to pull out the same amount of ps fluid as in the lubrizol bottle and replace it with the lubrizol this fixes the issue.
I found this fix on mbworld.org but unfortunately my dealer in NC does not carry this product. If any one of you can find it pm me as I could use one as well.
Cheers
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 3
From: Chicago
2002 E430 4MATIC
Both our w210s had the problem. If it's the same sound... it is caused by a rubbing inside the stearing column and has nothing to do with PS fluid. I believe the fix is to dissamble the column and lubricate or replace the offending seal. We just live/lived with it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
no, its not in the column.
The problem is a radial seal in the rack. Its basically right below where the column enters the rack.
Lubrizol works, but only diminishes the sound, it doesn't eliminate it. I used it, and it reduced it to the point where it didn't bother me much anymore.
The TSB listed above is the correct solution to the problem, but gets expensive when you consider labor to drop the rack, replace seal (which most dealers wouldn't do I'd imagine), and then reinstall and align.
The problem is a radial seal in the rack. Its basically right below where the column enters the rack.
Lubrizol works, but only diminishes the sound, it doesn't eliminate it. I used it, and it reduced it to the point where it didn't bother me much anymore.
The TSB listed above is the correct solution to the problem, but gets expensive when you consider labor to drop the rack, replace seal (which most dealers wouldn't do I'd imagine), and then reinstall and align.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 8
From: Long Island, NY
01 E320
I think we may be talking about different problems here. There also is a commonly reported sound that comes from the rubber seal in the back of the dash on the firewall. I've seen much discussion about it on this board in other threads
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 3
From: Chicago
2002 E430 4MATIC
Yes - that is the sound that I hear. It is clearly coming from the steering column very near the steering wheel.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2002 e430
I have the same problem on my 02 e430 it will drive you up the wall. The problem is coming from a rubber boot where the steering column goes through the fire wall. This boot wears out because of the exhaust heat from the back of the engine. Sometime affected in the cold or severe heat. I have tried liquid silicone, vaseline, grease, and even pneumatic grease to only have the noise come back. Mercedes really failed with the part. Oh, and by the way this is not covered under my mercedes factory extended warranty. They tell me that the boot would need to be replaced to fix the problem (for now) and it is only a noise issue not a mechanical one.
