230sl power steering repair manual

[230slhouston]

Hi,
I am sure this was asked many times. I have the power steering out and bought a Kit. Is there a repair procedure to help? I don't mind paying for this, please PM me. I can figure this out the hard way but looking for some guide to help accelerate.

Maistran

[dirkbalter]

It is described in the BBB, assuming you have the full version. Otherwise the "Flipbooks" off the  German side will have it.
 https://forum.mercedesclub.de
PM me if questions.
Dirk

[230slhouston]

Hi,
Don't have a BBB but willing to buy on if someone has one.
Thanks

[dirkbalter]

I bought a BBB as well. The problem is that the original BBB had three volumes and the one I bought and believe is the one commonly sold, is condensed to just one volume. A lot (on for example the power steering box) is missing. If you pm me with your email, I send you what I have. However, its in German and you might have to find the English version of it.

[230slhouston]

Hi Everyone,
Need some help. I was planning just replacing the seals but may have done my sequence wrong. Removed the front end, ended up removing the shaft and ball bearing dropped out (31). after looking at the manual, realized I should have pulled out the pinion first.
How difficult is the pinion to remove - i do not want to use any force. I tap the screw end a it moves a little.
Adjusting screw removed and unscrewed the plate with the "o" ring. pictures attached.

Thanks
Maistran

[dirkbalter]

If memory serves me right and don't hold me to it, the ball bearing housing needs to come out first. The rib in the unit (photo) engages with the shaft groove.

[230slhouston]

Dirk,
Thanks for the reply. what is the sequence:
1. Pinion shaft
2. Steering worm/housing (the one with ball bearings)
3. then the shaft in your photo?

The Pinion shaft is my issue. I removed the adjusting nut.

Thanks

[dirkbalter]

Maistran,
I did that a couple of years ago, but looking at the sequence of the pictures I took, it appears that:

1 lead screw together with the flanged housing.
2 Control shaft (earlier pic).
3 Steering or pinion shaft
4 Main cylinder with bearing nut.

Not sure if you have to follow that order. I didn't have any real issues taking it apart after I had this section off the BBB. (As you know, my purchased BBB doesn't have it.)
I remember the by far biggest challenge was re-feeding the balls back into the screw assembly. Every time I thought I had it right, I would shake the unit and could hear that at least one of the balls escaped and was rattling in the housing.
Good luck

[230slhouston]

Update: Dirk, thanks for the pictures. the inner assembly had to turn a tad bit to avoid fouling against the assembly. Your pictures helped figure out the issue. As  I go through the assembly, I will post some updates to also help the next person.

Much Appreciated.
Maistran

[230slhouston]

Hi,
does anyone know how many ball bearings there should be? I am counting 30. saw a post that said 31....hope I did not loose one.

[dirkbalter]

lol, 30-31 according to the BBB. How is it going?
(Mine had 30)

[230slhouston]

Dirk,
Thanks...I read the BBB after posting.
All good - assembled the power steering. Need to make the home made torque lever or just go buy a small torque wrench.
The ball went in after a couple of tries. I figured that if I don't push in the worm all the way in and start dropping the ball bearings in while gently screwing this in, it feeds the bearings. My trick was to keep feeding the worm even as they as they popped out the other hole.  I kept feeding until the worm was against the the thrust bearing. Little grease in the tube, with the remaining bearings and screw the tube in.
Assembly was straight forward. i wont test this for month as I am assembling the car....just came back from the paint shop.

Appreciate all the help.

[dirkbalter]

Good for you. Took me a whole day to get the balls back in. Grease, magnets, cursing, praying…..,
Make sure u shake it and don’t hear any “clicking” in the housing.
All the best 

[yves]

 31balls  surely.... i have done taht job some months ago and found a ball hidden under my magnetic cup after refitting the box on the car 
No need  a torque wrench  if you have not one , a piece of wood and a "peson"  make the job
And to adjust the final alignment  you can make a pin which goes un the hole for centering