steering.....again

[benzburner]

what the hell is wrong with this ****** country. mechanics seem to be the only profession where it is accepted that you pay for their incompetence. i gave my W124 to my mechanic for two weeks and it is pretty much the ****** same €800 later. still splutters, the rear is now developing a swaying motion after new shocks and i look at my tyres just a minute ago and hey presto... two shot front tyres after he allegedly "adjusted" the steering box and tracked the wheels. i am in the ****** pits of despair AGAIN over mechanics lack of knowledge. this guy is a "specialist". can these imbeciles even spell that? he knew the ****** thing is for sale and i'm only selling it because it was supposed to be my reliable daily driver but it cleaned me out. my Golf gti is also for sale because incompetent mechanics bills cleaned me out and it's still hopelessly far from perfect.


i have two knackered cars and a knackered bike and no matter how much i am now throwing at them to get them to a stage where i can sell them, they continue to clean me out and remain in an unsellable condition.

I'M BEGGING PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME
1) is the steering box adjustable and would you have to work for NASA to do it
2)do you have to work for NASA in order to fit two back shocks
3)why does my engine splutter.


I AM DESPERATE I HAVE SPENT THOUSAND AFTER THOUSAND PAYING PEOPLE TO NOT FIX MY FLEET WHICH CURRENTLY HAS A VALUE OF NIL

 

[stever]

The steering box is adjustable - I'm sure somebody with a w124 will give exact details, but on the w123 you loosen the 19mm locknut on the top of the box, then turn the allen bolt anti-clockwise in small increments to remove play. Don't overdo it or you could knacker the box and/ or your steering won't self-centre. Re the suspension - I had the same swaying issue and it was the main axle beam mounts - changing them has transformed the ride and handling. Garage charged around £200.

 

[bitonw]

Welcome to the U.K. where the word Customer Service isn't in their dictionary. I’m sick and tired too and will leave this sinking Island very soon… I lost about £4000 on a Lexus… And still no joy…

Hope you find someone who can help you since I have given up on them…

 

[jberks]

There are lots of good mechanics out there too. I generally give them 2 goes to get it right, then move on. (hence I don't spend much time at the dealership these days!).
My tyre/tracking guy is great. Any problems bring it back and we'll go through it as many times as it takes - no charge after the first visit. He even insisted on rebalancing the front wheels when I knew they were done right the first time - he just wanted to show he was being thorough. So quality and service do still exist - can just be a bit tricky to find sometimes.

 

[bitonw]

Thanks jberks,

Gladd to read that those kind of people do exitst!
The only thing is when you pay for service you expect service, you pay their wages... But most of them forget that... and I'm not only speaking about cars but in general.

This guy, Tony, is Cold http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk

 

[jberks]

Is cold bad? - hell I'm getting old!

Looking at the page its pretty hard reading. By the looks of it, it was a translation from the German and wasn't done by a native English speaker. I particularly like the line "the cost of their ignorance will bear down on you" ...ooohh scary!

Unfortunately the guys I use whilst excellent are in Leeds and Bradford. Can't vouch for their grammar though.

 

[big x]

Well,with older cars you really need to be doing a bit of DIY. Start by buying a Haynes manual.The MB electronic parts catalogue (EPC) and workshop manual (WIS) DVD's is well worth picking up on Ebay.

adam

 

[Uncle Benz]

Just want to put in my 2p. Steering box adjustment has always seemed to me to be a bit of a waste of time. If they get to that point I would really fit a recon steering box. Adjustment is usually done too late, and leaves the steering just a tiny bit too tight at the straight ahead and feels constantly fidgety, particularly in a side wind. Get a competent mechanic to fit a recon box and set the tracking and the car should feel as new. (check the centre track bar ball joints for play at the same time!!)

 

[bitonw]

I tried to adjust the steering box of my old Land Rover from 1967 the other day. Boy that's not an easy job but indeed if you can get hold on a Haynes manual that will help for sure and cost you only about £14.00 Also look for play the ball joints.

 

[benzburner]

Just want to put in my 2p. Steering box adjustment has always seemed to me to be a bit of a waste of time. If they get to that point I would really fit a recon steering box.

where would one get a recon steering box??? i know my guy is supposed to be a bit of a genius and i know he has adjusted the box and had it tracked so it must be worn out.:-(

 

[kth286]

benzburner

a significant point that may have been overlooked as follows:

are the spokes of your steering wheel properly aligned when driving along a straight road ????????

I guess you know what I mean - the spokes should be horizontal.

If that is NOT the case let us know.

Regards

 

[bitonw]

Is cold bad? - hell I'm getting old!

Looking at the page its pretty hard reading. By the looks of it, it was a translation from the German and wasn't done by a native English speaker. I particularly like the line "the cost of their ignorance will bear down on you" ...ooohh scary!

Unfortunately the guys I use whilst excellent are in Leeds and Bradford. Can't vouch for their grammar though.

One typo, an 'C' instead a 'G' and it makes me an German??? Lucky me I only speak 5 languages and don't need to be an native English speaker to talk English...

 

[benzburner]

the steering wheel is more or less centred when driving. it's the last 40mm of the inside of both tyres which is burnt off.

 

[ALAN@ECUCLINIC]

I Can Get Recon Boxes,as I Have Said Before I Worked At A Power Steering Firm For 20 Yrs