Max.H

Just swapped new bushings for the steering rack, actually my tech says he had to drop the front cross member to remove the sway bar which also had collapsed bushings. Not sure if the steering wheel is suppose to feel this tight right after install. It's not terribly tight but noticeably tighter.

I thought I read somewhere, that you can turn the steering wheel lock to lock a certain number of times to reset the steering valve or the sensor? Anyone know about this?

Any help appreciated. Merry Christmas!

StarvingArtist

Once, lock to lock and hold for a couple seconds to reset the SAS. If you don't have the ESP malfunction warning, you don't need to do it.
Sounds like you have a physical problem. Excessive toe in can make the wheel feel stiffer, Did you get it realigned? Maybe your guy made a mistake, but I can't think what it might be. Maybe when I wake up all the way.

Max.H

Found the thread about it, No light went lock to lock 20-30 times. It feels a little smoother now. Thank you

StarvingArtist

Smoother now, weird.

V-AMG

What does going lock-to-lock 20-30 times do? I know you do it once to clear ESP but wasn't aware of anything else... Does is somehow re-calibrate the rack pressures or something to that effect?

Max.H

I dunno man I just read it somewhere that it bleeds the steering rack of air. I did it and it seemed to help a little. But, this morning it was tighter again, Till I did the same thing. Im going to hook the car up to star on monday and see what the heck is going on.

StarvingArtist

Are you just warming up the ps fluid? Doesn't change the problem, just gives you more leverage over it. Still got no idea what would make it tight.

Max.H

According to Hulk, once you drop the sway bar and steering rack to change out the bushings you need a new alignment and that is what causes the steering wheel to get tight. Las time my car was aligned was on the old collapsed bushings. So, monday appointment with star then go for allignment.

We'll see what happens.

Rocman8

Is the connection good at the speed sensitive steering control valve?

StarvingArtist

Brilliant! I completely forgot about the electrical connection and it's purpose. I was trying to figure out what could physically be in a bind.

Would an E500 have speed sensitive steering? My latest addition to the stable has stiffer steering than I'd like, but I thought it was just made that way.

Max.H

Just hooked up star and no faults. My tech mentioned that he tightened the sway bar tighter then it was before and maybe that has something to do with the stiff feeling steering wheel. I'll get more info on it tomorrow morning.

Will double check the speed sensitive steering control valve. (I imagine its on the steering rack?)

Then will probably need a new alignment.

Elhonaz

The torque used to bolt the swaybar down has absolutely nothing to do with the steering being stiffer.

Max.H

There is an adjustment screw on the steering rack that was tightened 1/4 turn by my tech. I had him turn it back and all is fine. Steering wheel feel back to normal.