Steering damper replacement

[philharve]

Hi All

I was 'advised' after my Mercedes passed its MOT that the steering damper was leaking and it will eventually have to be replaced.

Has any member replaced this item and how much will it cost? The damper was described to me as a miniature version of a suspension damper and its purpose is to control steering vibration. It sounds as though it ought to be easy to fit.

I don't know the exact state of my steering damper. or how long it's been leaking, but I suspect it's no longer performing its job.

Would a defective damper have an effect upon the steering accuracy in addition to not controlling vibration?

REGARDS Phil

 

[television]

It takes away some of the road surface viabrations, its easy to change, if you are going to do it now the weather has picked up, I can give you full details.

Malcolm

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

Hello Phil,

as television said it's an easy job- not sure about your car but it's just two bolts on the 124 and not an expensive part. Seems odd that it would need replacing this soon on a 2000 car though?

 

[angus falconer]

Hello Phil,

as television said it's an easy job- not sure about your car but it's just two bolts on the 124 and not an expensive part. Seems odd that it would need replacing this soon on a 2000 car though?

The damper on my 2000 C43 went pop at 45k miles/3.5 years

 

[philharve]

The damper on my 2000 C43 went pop at 45k miles/3.5 years

Hi All

Well, my car is 6 years old and covered almost 100k miles. The steering damper has lasted almost twice as long as Angus's damper so I shouldn't complain. I've been told it costs about GBP30.00, excluding labour.

I checked my Haynes manual and fitting the damper is a simple enough job ... just a couple bolts, but I need to check the condition of the bushes. Thanks.

REGARDS Phil

 

[television]

Hi All

Well, my car is 6 years old and covered almost 100k miles. The steering damper has lasted almost twice as long as Angus's damper so I shouldn't complain. I've been told it costs about GBP30.00, excluding labour.

I checked my Haynes manual and fitting the damper is a simple enough job ... just a couple bolts, but I need to check the condition of the bushes. Thanks.

REGARDS Phil

I think that I am right in saying that the bushes are built into the shock obsorber Phil.

Malcolm

 

[philharve]

I think that I am right in saying that the bushes are built into the shock obsorber.

Hi malcolm

So there are no bushes on the drag link or chassis fixing points?

REGARDS Phil

 

[philharve]

Hi All

I assume the steering damper is intended to dampen the steering vibration caused by potholes and poor road surfaces? But does the damper affect high speed stability too? A colleague seems to think it does.

REGARDS Phil

 

[BIGSTEVE]

The Damper Is Very Easey To Do, 2 Sixteen Mm Bolts And Its Off, The Bushes Are Fixed Into The Damper And It All Comes As One.

 

[turnipsock]

17mm nuts maybe?

Without the damper, the steering is very vauge at any speed.

 

[philharve]

17mm nuts maybe?

Without the damper, the steering is very vauge at any speed.

Hi turnipstock

'... vague at speed.' Yes, that confirms what I've been told. That describes perfectly the action of the steering wheel as I approach 3-figure speeds. The steering becomes light and I need to saw at the steering wheel just to keep the Merc' on the straight an narrow. At legal speeds you wouldn't know there was a problem.

In all probability the damper was due for replacement when I bought the car over a year ago. Thankfully replacement is inexpensive and it'll all be sorted on Wednesday.

This is the first car I've owned which has a steering damper. My last car, a Toyota Celica, didn't have a separate damper and it was very stable well above 3-figure speeds. When were steering dampers introduced and why? I thought they were to reduce steering vibration over poor road surfaces? Now I think they have a dual role.

REGARDS Phil

 

[tom7035]

The suspension dampers (shockers), fitted vertically, well nearly, deal with the 'up and down' movement. The steering damper, fitted horizontally, deals with 'side to side' nuisances with the steering.

 

[philharve]

Hi tom7035

It's the horizontal steering damper that interests me. I've never encountered one fitted to a car before, at least not one I've owned. They're probably quite a common fitment these days? I'm wondering whether fitting a replacement damper will cure the steering 'twitchiness' that manifests above 90mph?

There's no signs of leaks from the suspension dampers - yet! Vertical travel is well damped.

REGARDS Phil

 

[turnipsock]

The steering damper is easy to check, disconnect one end and see what the movement is like. There should be no free play, but you should be able to move it slowly...just like any other shock absorber.

 

[tom7035]

So easy to replace Phil and a very inexpensive repair by MB standards, just two bolts as has been said. £18.50 + VAT from GSF. Well worth a try anyway IMO but if it's leaking it requires replacement in any case. Just make sure it goes on the same way round.

 

[philharve]

Hi All

I've just returned from the indie and he's attended to all the 'advisories' arising from my recent MOT. I've new discs and pads on the rear; two new lower ball joints on the front AND a new steering damper. I'm lighter by GBP340.00 but what would a dealer have charged me for the same work? Oh yes, before I forget, he replaced a failed brake light, FOC.

As previous, he should me the parts he'd removed.

He showed be the old damper and said 'You know that dampers present a strong resistance to movement, well look at this.' He held the damper vertically and it extended under its own weight in about one second. Absolutely no resistance. Totally knackered. Dry as a bone. It reminded me of a plastic flute I used to have as a child, the type with a piston which you moved in and out and made 'Clangers' type whistling noises.

The rusty nearside, rear disc was scored on both sides and was overdue for replacement. Still effective though. Since the indie will only replace them in pairs, by bill suddenly crept up another hundred quid.

The ball joint was a little worn but once again both were replaced for sake of safety and tyre wear.

How does the car feel now? Taughter, certainly. It doesn't crash over potholes any longer and the steering feels less vague: I don't have to saw at the steering wheel quite as often to keep her straight. But here's another tale.

I asked the indie about the high speed stability of the C-class and was surprised at his answer. He drives an early C180 himself so knows the idiosyncracies of the model well.

The C-class DOES exhibit instability problems at speed but this can largely be removed by altering the steering geometry. This is a standard MB procedure for owners who complain. HOWEVER, altering the steering geometry alters the alignment of the road wheels in relation to the road surface with the result that tyre wear increases. I was assured this was not a design fault; the steering geometry is a compromise between speed, handling, comfort and running costs. Early Cs were more 'unstable' than later Cs, relatively speaking. The indie cited his own C180 as a typical example. My C230K will be better handling than his C180.

At all legal road speeds the C-class is a delight to drive. If the C-class has a fault, it's too light and responds badly to crosswinds. You have to 'drive' the C-class at high speeds because it is not forgiving. It requires alertness at all times.

Even with a new steering damper I still have to saw at the steering wheel to keep the car straight. However, it's now smoother and less twitchy. The '100mph mark' is now realistically achieveable. However, if you push it at autobahn speeds you will have your work cutout to keep it under control. But if you live on the Continent where roads are better, faster, you're likely to have opted for the revised geometry or ... have purchased an S-class.

The indie added that the E-class exhibits the same instability but it's less pronounced. It uses the same kind of geometry BUT it is a heavier car. If you want rock-steady performance and impeccable road manners in all circumstances, even in strong crosswinds, you should buy an S-class.

I learn a little more with each visit to the indie even though I leave his workshop with a considerably lighter wallet. It's a love-hate relationship.

REGARDS Phil

 

[philharve]

Steering damper life

Hi All

Just been reading about steering damper life. It seems 4 or 5 years is fairly typical. Symptoms of a failing damper are increased vibration through steering wheel, tendency to crash over potholes, steering vagueness over rough road surfaces. Damper will leak oil when seals wear. Replacement is an easy task.

REGARDS Phil

 

[Bargain Bucket]

This is probably a daft question - but does the E-Class W210 have a steering damper fitted and is it easy enough to swap?

 

[Blobcat]

This is probably a daft question - but does the E-Class W210 have a steering damper fitted and is it easy enough to swap?

Search for your W210 on this Russion site http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb0.asp?TP=1 you can then see the exploded diagrams detailing all the parts

 

[Bargain Bucket]

Cooooooool. I like that a lot. Thank Blobcat. Looks like no damper on the W210 then. Makes sense cos I've never seen one when working under the car.