S124 Steering Box Play

tonychunk

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Mercedes 220 1973 Mercedes 300TD 1992
My trusty old 300TD 1992 has just been for MOT and has excessive play in steering box.

The play is in Pitman arm. If you grab and wiggle the arm there is a fair bit of play there in all directions. The arm is tight on shaft so is not a spline issue.

Is this adjustable or is it recon box time?

Many thanks
 

LostKiwi

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Look on the opposite side of the box to the arm. There may be a nut and adjustment bolt. If so slacken the nut and wind in the adjuster a small amount. I'd suggest no more than 1/8 turn each time. Between adjustments rotate the steering fully one way and the other with both front wheels off the ground. Any binding and you've gone too far.
 
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tonychunk

tonychunk

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Hi
Thank you for the reply.

There is a adjuster under the heat shield. A 19mm nut with a hex in the middle. Is this the one?
 

star

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As above but I've always wound the central adjuster pin out, anti clockwise. Mark before, so you know your start point.
 
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tonychunk

tonychunk

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Thank you both for your help. I will try this next week and report back.
 

ajlsl600

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Most of the wear likely in the straight ahead position, its a matter of how much of this you can adjust out before binding occurs in the areas of least wear ,normally near the ends of travel. And then if that adjustment is enough to satisfy mot requirements. I would prob have this issue on my W208 in the uk they dont seem quite so fussy here in france. Good luck
 
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tonychunk

tonychunk

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Most of the wear likely in the straight ahead position, its a matter of how much of this you can adjust out before binding occurs in the areas of least wear ,normally near the ends of travel. And then if that adjustment is enough to satisfy mot requirements. I would prob have this issue on my W208 in the uk they dont seem quite so fussy here in france. Good luck
Thank you. Hopefully all will be fine.
 

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