[Michael320sl]

My SL seems to have a little to much play in the steering, I have had a look and it seems there maybe some adjustment available on the steering box.

Can anyone give me some guidance before I loosen anything?

Thank you from England

 

[mahunt]

Before delving into the steering box, I would check the steering coupler "rag joint" and inspect the idler arm.

I've gone through 3 idler arm bushings in 2 years and recently replaced my seemingly "new" looking coupler with an actual new coupler and was very impressed with the difference it made in steering response/feel.

Check the idler arm by lifting only the passenger side front tire and juke the wheel back and forth in the same direction as it steers. There should only be a little play (there's some play as the steering column doesn't completely capture the steering shaft when the key is removed). If the bushings are bad, the idler arm will visibly flop around.

The steering coupler is a little more subtle to discern. I think it's condition can only be accurately determined by driving. I tried to observe some wear or sloppiness while at rest, but couldn't. It was only after changing out the old part and driving with the new one that I was able to say that it was indeed worn. Even with the old part in my hand, it looked fine. Once changed though, the steering became quite precise with pinpoint accuracy.

 

[aam]

I would put my money on the idling arm, control arm bushings, tie rods etc.
Not the ps,gear box.

Regards,
aam.

 

[Michael320sl]

Hi Guy's
Thank you for the advise.

What about the locking nut on the steering box that appears to have an adjusting screw in the centre of it, would this take out a little slack?

 

[DORIAN]

Steering

Good day,to adjust the steering play, you need to loosen the outer nut and turn the screw on the steering box COUNTER clockwise to tighten on excessive play.

 

[abiby]

Just a newbie question...

Does the 129 still have recirculating ball steering box?

 

[mahunt]

My car has 176K miles and the steering box is just fine. If I were you, I wouldn't mess around with that pretty expensive bolt and setscrew. After changing out the coupler (requires dismounting the steering box), I wouldn't recommend dicking around with the box (sorry aam).

ALL of the play in my steering has been due to other wearables (idler arm bushings, steering coupler, tie rod ends, steering damper, swaybar bushings, upper strut mount bearing, lower control arm bushings and ball joints.

My car currently steers with great feel, no slop and pinpoint accuracy.

 

[aam]

My car has 176K miles and the steering box is just fine. If I were you, I wouldn't mess around with that pretty expensive bolt and setscrew. After changing out the coupler (requires dismounting the steering box), I wouldn't recommend dicking around with the box (sorry aam).

ALL of the play in my steering has been due to other wearables (idler arm bushings, steering coupler, tie rod ends, steering damper, swaybar bushings, upper strut mount bearing, lower control arm bushings and ball joints.

My car currently steers with great feel, no slop and pinpoint accuracy.

No, No, we are on the same frequency, I agree with what you said.

I wouldn't touch that screw, unless I have too.
It is pressure sensitive.....

And yes it is a recirculating ball system, then they changed in to a rack and pinion.

I forgot to mention that you MUST TIGHTEN the three gear box mounting bolts.
(They are accessible from inside the fender.)
Like every six months.

Regards,
aam.

 

[Michael320sl]

Thanks for the advise I am off to have another look to see what I can find.

 

[chriswufgator]

Same as everyone else says, the steering gear itself never wears out. They can sometimes develop leaky seals if you don't re-torque the mounting bolts every so often, which leaks PS fluid everywhere and necessitates a rebuild, but they don't wear out in any way that loosens up the steering. That is related to your front end bushings, the bushings on the idler/pittman arm, and your front ball joints. If you are feeling a lot of play in the wheel, you need some front suspension work.

There IS indeed an adjustment on the steering box, but once it is calibrated by the factory it can't move by itself later. Your problem isn't the adjustment it's other stuff loosening up. How many miles and what have you done in the front end so far? The mileage kind of gives an indication of what's going bad.

 

[madmax883]

All, I had a fair amount of play in the steering on my 1997 sl500 r129. The play was severe and most notable with some angle in the steering. At off center, the steering wheel had about 1/8 play. I tracked down all the tierods, idler arms etc none of which had play. I found the play was where the steering shaft goes into the steering box - there was a lot. I tightened the steering box a bit and it solved it! I just kept backing out the nut gear (counter clockwise to tighten) until the box would bind a bit when passing through top dead center, then loosened it from there until the binding was 100% gone. All play is gone, no binding at top dead center. The on center steering is better, the off center steering is worlds better. The car has 62,000 miles on it for reference. These boxes do need adjustment. All my vehicles that have recirculating ball steering have needed adjustment to get the steering tight angle.