Steering Column SLK320

[pepsi]

I have a six speed manual SLK 320 (2000) and recently the bottom of the steering column snapped off. Sorry I have no mechanical knowledge - but I have been told that basically there was a heavy spring which was attached to the clutch and the spring was too heavy for the weight of the steering column. The car still drives okay and the clutch operates fine. Hoping someone on here can advise if this is a common fault and if anyone has had this repaired.

Thanks in advance

Pepsi

 

[type49]

Are you talking about the steering column or the pedal assemly? There is a bit of the pedals assembly that breaks & leaves a spring & a 5" rod on the floor but this is in no way connected to the steering.

 

[pepsi]

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes I did find a spring and a rod on the floor, but it was a mechanic friend that told me that the bit that snapped was the bottom of the steering column. Is the pedal assembly thing a common fault?

Thanks again

 

[type49]

Yes you need a new pedal assembly. It is common-ish in the fact that a manual Merc is rare in the first place. It is nothing to do with the steering. No special tools required to fit, you just need to be a bit bendy being upside down under the dash.

 

[pepsi]

Thank you "Type49" for your reply.

Just a couple more stupid questions if you dont mind. Will it matter if I do not fit a new assembly - and is this something that MB should fix for free as a design fault. Thanks so much for your help.

Pepsi

 

[type49]

I have known cars to be left with this part broken but at the end of the day, it is there for a reason, so can only advise it is repaired. I agree, it is a design fault but I would be surprized if MB payed for it on a 2000 car. Where are you? Many dealers offer a reduced labour rate after 6 years old. The part is not that costly. Might be worth a few phone calls.

 

[pepsi]

Hello Type 49
You are right again, MB have refused to pay for the repair, but my local dealer (I live in N Scotland - so only the odd 300 miles or so between dealers) says they can replace the part and the required new clutch pedal for just over 200 pounds! A bit annoying when it would definately appear to be a design fault and I have just been lucky that mine has lasted so long......Thanks for all your advice anyway.

Pepsi

 

[K-T]

My 2002 52-plate has just done this, went with a very worrying loud "ping".

We'd just finished a long motorway trip, extremely lucky it didn't fail at speed as the spring then swung to the back and jammed the clutch pedal so I couldn't de-clutch it, I had to pull in and stall it, great for safety huh?

Did you get yours replaced in the end, and did MB insist you change the clutch pedal? What was the cost? The part is actually a casting (notoriously low fatigue strength) which surrounds the brake actuator on the bulkhead, it connects to the pedal with just a circlip so a mystery why the pedal would need to be changed too.

I'm a metallurgist and the part is loaded in bend beyond it's fatigue strength, leading to double-initiated fatigue (two parts have to crack) and final fast fracture (the "ping"). It is nothing short of shoddy design, leading in my case to the car being left in a dangerous state.

Personally I'm finding the clutch pedal throw a bit better now I've removed the dangling bits, I've pretty much had it with this POS, in just three months it's had its ESP replaced (blown, plus five brake light switches first), the light control module changed (full of water) and the passenger footwell mopped out due to the w/screen drainage being spectacularly badly designed.

No more mercs for me...

 

[markrobins]

Hello Pepsi,

Did you ever get this repaired ? Mines just broken too:

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?p=210983&posted=1#post210983