How to lube steering shaft U-joint

[Exp21]

Hi everyone. My w245 has a strange clicking and clunking at low speed maneuvering. For exclusion the only suspected part left is the steering shaft U-joint. It appears dirty and dry, and if I grab the shaft and shake it it's loose. I don't know if it needs replacing all the steering column, anyway I'd like to clean and lube the U-joint. Does it require regular cleaning and lubing? I'd like to make a try. Is it ok to clean it with WD40 and then applying lithium grease all around it? I've never heard of this kind of maintenance so I need some advice. Thank you very much

 

[EmilysDad]

if there's play in the UJ then it needs replacing with what ever bit it's connected to. The days of being able to replace bearings in a UJ are largely gone. Greasing around it won't achieve anything I'm afraid.

 

[Exp21]

Thank you. You're right, but the fact is this: I've been looking for the cause of this clunking for months. No mechanic could tell me what it is. I have replaced for other reasons so many components that the only part remaining is the steering shaft. I went even to the MB dealer, I showed the play in the shaft and the chief mechanic couldn't tell me if it's normal. He showed me another w169 that was in the garage at the moment. Exact same play. I checked with my eyes. I checked in forums worldwide and I read of other 2-3 cases with the same play. At this point the only thing I could try it's lubing it (hoping that the play is really normal). Steering is good and smooth. But I have this metallic clunk especially when I go in reverse and I'm braking about to stop the car. From what I know the steering rack is fixed on the chassis, so during load shifting shouldn't be under mechanical stress. I really don't know. I'm groping, anyway I think that lubing can only make things go better?

 

[EmilysDad]

Ah! I see what you mean. Your clunking doesn't sound to me as if it's from the column though But I can't offer you a possible cure

 

[Exp21]

Thank you anyway . In this case it means (probably) that the shaft play is "normal" and it's not the cause of the clunk. I'll lube it lightly anyway, just to remove dirt.

 

[Uncle Benz]

I had a customer with a partially seized column UJ on a w164 ML recently. I booked him in for the following week, but sprayed the offending UJ with some Autosmart Lubrice. A week passed, and the car turned up. The owner said he didn’t know if it still needed replacing, as it had returned to pretty much normal. I did replace the intermediate shaft, as it still felt slightly tight when removed, and it’s a safety critical component

 

[Exp21]

Hi, thank you . I agree and I'm the first trying to prevent when it's about safety. But in my case I can't even get to a diagnosis I showed the shaft to the chief mechanic in a huge MB dealer, grabbing it and making it clunking, but I receveid no answer. They told me it's not a safety issue and that other cars (same model) do the same. Probably the best thing to do is lubing and if the clunk disappears I have the proof the I need a new shaft.

 

[mattkh]

...... I showed the shaft to the chief mechanic in a huge MB dealer, grabbing it and making it clunking, but I receveid no answer.

What year is your B class?
Because on the W169, there are 2 or 3 UJs because the steering box is on the LHS and there is a shaft going at an angle.
What is the setup on your W245?
And I am sure there will be a UJ inside the car under the dash.

 

[Exp21]

Hi and thank you. My w245 CDI B-class is a 2011 (restyling) model. Now I don't remember exactly but I checked in WIS and EPC and I think there are 2 UJs (both part of the chromed shaft you see in photo, at the two opposite extremities). One under the dashboard, the other is the one in the photo I posted (attached to the steering rack). If I shake it, it's pretty loose. The thing scares me. Probably it would be sufficient to replace only this chromed shaft with the 2 U-joints. But I don't know if I am capable of doing DIY. I know that the UJ on the steering rack is difficult to extract because there's the risk that hammering alters the setting of the steering sensor.

 

[Exp21]

Here's from EPC

 

[ajlsl600]

You can go get some thick grease heat it up ,use a large animal syringe,from vet get the lube in while hot let it cool right down n set. Sounds more like shot bush clanking on retaining bolt or fixing plate/frame.?
I doubt this ur issue tho,dont use naked flame to heat grease.yrs ago I used to put my bike chain in a large tin of chain grease warm it up till liquid.hook chain out hang above tin till set then fix back. Worked well ,lovelly loved the brown oily line up her jacket !! All oring now. Or worse fan belt ! Good luck

 

[Exp21]

Thanks for your advice. The problem cannot be in the bushings sadly. It's all brand new but the shocks down there. And I feel that clunk from under the steering column. I don't know, anyway I'll grease like you said

 

[mattkh]

Have a closer look at the UJ under the dash.
If possible, put up a few pictures of that UJ including the bolts holding it.

 

[Exp21]

Isn't it covered by panels? I don't remember right now. I'll try. Anyway if the steering rack is bolted to the chassis, when I brake the steering column should not be under load. Am I right? I think that the clunk is another issue, apart from the loose steering shaft

 

[mattkh]

Two things. One. I take it there is no play in the steering. With the window open and looking at the driver side wheel, turning the steering ever so sightly is showing a movement of the wheel. Which way is the play in the steering shaft?

Two. If you have time, have a read of Albert Rowe's website (aclassinfo) regarding the steering clunck on an A Class, and he used a sealant on the splines of one of the shafts to cure it.

 

[Exp21]

Hi. I know Albert's website, now I looked rapidly at w168 steering issues. I don't know if the steering rack and shaft are the same on my w245.

I knew A and B classes were a mess but I didn't thought till this point. There's not a single component in that car that works properly and doesn't break. The play I feel is if I grab the shaft (silver color) you see in the picture with one hand and try to move it. I've always felt some clunk and stoc during low speed maneuvering, but I always attributed these noises to other failing suspension parts (like they told me at the dealer, also because the steering was smooth, I didn't feel the jerks directly to my hands). Now the car after replacing all those parts runs almost fine, some minor noises remains (but with B-classes you go mad if you want it perfect so I gave up) but if I go in rear and brake to stop, I feel this metallic noise. Sometimes it does it also going forward and braking. Anyway I feel it mostly when braking while turning slightly the steering wheel (it seems that at a certain steering angle it's worse), like when you're doing a rear and meanwhile you're stopping you're also positioning the front wheels just to start forward again in the direction you want. It's hard to describe this by words, but my doubt is: if it's a problem in the steering column/shaft, why do I feel it especially under load shifting (i.e. while braking)?