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Hi,
After the steering wheel airbag was replaced under warranty, my R started to have a clunk noise like the one in this Link, after searching for some time I found out that W164/W251 tend to have an issue with the steering shaft bearing.
you can see the replacement on a W164, yet the W251 design is totally different, and I wonder if anyone could help me with sharing the WIS procedure to replace it, as I would like to organize my work instead of going blindly at it.
I'm 100% positive that all the other components are in good condition and the source of the noise is this plastic bearing.
The photos below show the part I'm talking about, after replacing it I'll try to write a small DIY post, hopefully.
Good evening to everyone,
In the previous post I was describing with an incredible certainty that the clunk was coming from the steering shaft bearing, well, I was wrong.
After replacing the bearing, the clunk is still there. Since I'm a very stubborn person, after persisting for a while, finally, I isolated the clunk/noise in the U-joint that connects the steering column to the intermediate shaft. After some research, the best option is to purchase a GMB U-joint, precisely the 1538 (15 mm cap-38mm length), as Mercedes doesn't offer the intermediate shaft as a replacement, only the whole column assembly is available..
I'll try to update the thread, hopefully this will sort out this problem
Regards,
Francis
Bearing locationa (behind heat shield), easily accessible after removing the left air filter
i am having same issue. i have discovered that the cluck is coming not from any uni joints, or bearing, which i have replaced myself as well. On my car its coming from steering wheel column, inside of the car, i think from the sliding pair where steering wheel position can be adjusted. Clunk goes away when i am fully pushing steering wheel in, up or down does not matter. Check on your car if its same, it might me a common problem on those.
Just checked, the noise is there whatever is the position of the steering, pressed in, up down, fully extended.
Next week I should have the replacement U-joint on hand, I would prefer to avoid the $1000+ expense to replace the whole column.
Hi,
Hopefully next week I'll put my hands on the replacement U-joint, which, for anyone interested is a GMB 1538, with 4 plain round bearings. Mine is definitely shot as each cap is leaking grease and it's definitely not supposed to.
05-15-2023, 07:45 AM
