Steering Box Help

[nea100]

Looking for some help and advice please.

While my mighty 240D drives quite straight, the steering has the dreaded 1”+ of free-play in the straight ahead position, and it will not adjust out. I was wondering what options there are. Can these steering boxes be successfully reconditioned, the local shop (central Qld) said there can be problems due to how they wear, and would have to send it away to get done. Should I look for a good second hand unit, but do they exist these days? Will boxes from any other models such as the W126 go into the W123 without any modifications?

Thanks in advance.

[tsharkey]

I have seen you tube videos of them being "reconditioned" - ie: New seals but not fixing play etc.

I have read on the US forums that the W126 box fits and offers the S Class feature of auto slack adjusting .....

See here
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/w126- ... st-5010081

Note it is a LHD discussion. Also W126 Series I. Also Pitman Arm will need to be retained.

[newMercowner69]

I'd check the bearings,bushes&oil seals.

[nea100]

Thank you. I read through the post and it seems that the W126 steering box from Series-1 could interchange, the “auto compensation” sounds interesting. Anyway will try and track one down and check out the compatibility, there are a few more W126s being parted out up this way, not so many W123s unfortunately, and all my spares are pretty tired. Just trying to work out a way to go at the moment. Ron B does have a YouTube series on a W114 box rebuild, and it looks a bit involved.....

https://youtu.be/ZL4kZieJZUU

Everything has been checked out and all couplings, tie rods etc are good. Hoping it wasn't to be a box problem.....

Thanks once again.

[John Green]

I presume that it is being correctly adjusted? I ask as I have see a few that have been adjusted by mechanics used to working on local cars get it back to front. On a MB the adjuster needs to the wound out. On most other recirculating ball steering boxes it is wound in.

[nea100]

Hello John,

Thanks, yes turning CCW, the adjuster is quite a ways out and turning any further is causing binding unfortunately.

What do you usually recommend in regards to worn steering boxes? Does the W126 possibly interchange?

Thanks again.