W124 steering box adjustment?

[ShivaYash]

Evening,

Is the steering box adjustable on the W124s?

My steering is a little slack and I wonder if it could be sorted, with the quick turn of a spanner or similar.

I recall this was the case on W123s.

Alternatively, how does a changing the steering box rate in terms of difficulty/ labour time (cost)? Easy or not?

With best,

 

[television]

You have a nut in the front of the box, you can turn it anti clock just a little, the front wheels must be jacked and as you turn the steering wheel it must not stick on full lock, this part is imperative, or the car steering will not self center.

To measure the play, engine running and wheels straight ahead and about 1" is the norm max.

 

[WDB124066]

As TV said yes you can adjust in-car there is an MB publication for doing just this, there is an interference fit type situation in the straight ahead position so be very careful to get it correct and not too tight.
Also your sloppy steering may be because the several ball joints may have a little bit of wear all adding up to a lot of play. Check also the shock and idler bushing for play...

 

[television]

I have all the worksheets for these boxes and for reconditioning.

 

[hotrodder]

Pretty much all been said all been said while i was typing so to repeat...

The steering box is the very last thing i'd consider playing with until you've eliminated slack everywhere else in the steering linkage... a tick of movement in a few of the MANY balljoints soon adds up.

http://www.w124performance.com/service/Index/Groups/46Steering.htm Obviously only covers the offical methods for adjusting the steering box which involve measuring the friction torque rather than tweaking and going by feel... there is a play compensation built into the steering box around the 'straight ahead' position. As said if you try and take too much 'slack' out of the box at the straight ahead position the steering will end up binding with some lock applied

 

[ShivaYash]

As TV said yes you can adjust in-car there is an MB publication for doing just this, there is an interference fit type situation in the straight ahead position so be very careful to get it correct and not too tight.
Also your sloppy steering may be because the several ball joints may have a little bit of wear all adding up to a lot of play. Check also the shock and idler bushing for play...

Thanks, front ball joints and wishbones are 2.5 years old, so I think they are ok. Steering damper was also replaced at the same time. What is the life span of the damper? Its a cheap part to replace, if I recall.

I'll check and revert if need some help.

The steering is good for me, someone else drove the car, my mechanic, and suggested the steering could do with a little adjustment.

 

[WDB124066]

Follow hotrodder's and TV's advice on this, often but not always mechs can say the first thing that pops into their head without a full understanding of the precise situation.

 

[ShivaYash]

Follow hotrodder's and TV's advice on this, often but not always mechs can say the first thing that pops into their head without a full understanding of the precise situation.

Indeed! Well said.

Many thanks chaps, I'm signing off now.

Good night.

 

[ShivaYash]

I have all the worksheets for these boxes and for reconditioning.

I'd appreciate these via email, if that is not a problem for you. I believe you had my email address from previous comms.

Ta very much!