Odds and ends

[J. Huber]

I was under the car today and have a variety of small questions (thus the thread). Here we go:

1. The steering shock. What does this do and how long do they generally last? How difficult to replace? While my regular shocks are newly replaced -- this one is easily 44 years old. What might symptoms be of a shot one?

2. The connections and wires on the driver's side of the auto trans. Are these the ones that help dictate the shifting smoothness? Is it wise to disconnect them and clean the crud off the connections? Any dangers in such a move?


James
63 230SL

[ja17]

Hello,

If I recall the wire connections on the side of the tranmission pan are the terminals of the three position solenoid on the top of the tranmission. The nueatral safety connections and the reverse light switching is done at the nueatral safety switch on the firewall.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[hands_aus]

James
The wires have 3 different size lugs attached to them and on the terminal block there are 3 different sized screws that correspond to the lugs, so large lugs are held on by large screws etc.

So in reality it should be easy enough to remove the wires and clean to your hearts content then re-assemble.
Maybe you could group the wires on each terminal before removing the screws.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[Abbas]

James,
  If you feel your steering returns smoothly without any delays or disruption after you make a turn, then the steering damper does not need to be changed.

Check Dr Benz quote http://index.php?topic=6263,damper

quote:Originally posted by Benz Dr.

Most cars that come in here with over 100,000 miles on them all have dead steering shocks. It doesn't matter what model car either.
I undo one end of the shock and push then pull on it to see if there's resistance against either direction. No resistance or skips in the action and it's no good.

Abbas

280SL W113 1969 Ivory
E280 W124 1995 Silver

[J. Huber]

Thanks Abbas. The steering seems fine. So I think I'll leave well enough alone for now.

And thanks Bob & Joe. If I find I have nothing better to do, I'll wedge myself under the car, squint because of the muck falling in my eyes, and clean-up the connections!



James
63 230SL

[BABAK]

I replaced the steering shock . Its easy and quite inexpensive .