Power Steering Box for LHD AND RHD, the same?

[Dave H]

First of all let me say hello to everyone.....this is my first post....
I have recently bought a my first 280sl and i am in the process of dismanteling it for restoration .
It is a  4 speed manual with manual steering and i was interested in converting it to power steering
I would be interested in anybody elses experiences of doing this plus any guide as to where i could source
the parts i would require..
thanks in anticipation....

dave harrison

[franjo_66]

Dave, first off welcome to the "club". Great to see another Pagoda compatriot in the ranks,

I was considering installing power steering on my 230SL during its restoration. I was told that the actual box, pump, etc were the same and that I would just need the RHD bracket (which could be sourced from any RHD sedan of the same era). Also, the steering column for the manual steering is different than the PAS set up (for my 230SL - not sure about later 250SL & 280SL). I couldn't find a used RHD steering column for the PAS so I gave up !

I would suspect that you could quite easily find the pump, reservoir, box etc from the wreckers in the UK. You may need to modify the steering column, but the technical gurus on this site could provide better details on this

Regards
Frank

[Jack Jones]

I am in the process of adding PS to my LHD 1970 280SL and based on everything I have found including the MB Electronic Parts Catalog shows the same steering column. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I am. The steering box is different between left and right drive cars.

[stickandrudderman]

The steering column is different for PAS cars and is unique to the 113.
I have done several conversions but it does involve some fabrication where s/h parts are not available.
I would imagine that it would be obvious to anyone that the box itself is different for LHD and RHD and diferent for PAS or non PAS.

[Dave H]

So the box itself is differant....i was thinking it might be...i live in the UK and my car is a LHD drive ex california car...
unfortunately most spares over hear are RHD and i am unablle to source the LHD steering box i would require to do the conversion to power steering.
Also reading through earlier posts you have to shorten the steering shaft 40mm.this would not be a problem as i would get this done in the fabrication shop at work and have the weld radiographed for good measure.Iwill search E bay for the parts unless anyone within the group has a LHD box plus pump ,hoses and brackets knocking about...
thanks again..

[twistedtree]

You might check with Gernold at SLTech.  He might have the LHD conversion parts.

[Jack Jones]

Is the manual 113 column from a 280sl the same as the power steering column from the same car? The Mercedes Electronic Parts Catalog shows no difference in this part.

[Dave H]

i have not done this job myself but reading other posts on the conversion they mention that the power box is larger so the manual steering shaft is too long by some 40mm.....
they mention chopping it and welding it  unless you can get hold of a correct 280sl power steering shaft ??
 i hope they are wrong.....

[stickandrudderman]

The column for PAS is different.

[Dave H]

Hi stick and rudderman
I am reading the Haynes manual (section 32 steering and suspension)
it mentions that "all" steering shafts are "colapsable type" and the shafts can be telescoped/adjusted to provide an overall length of 28.8"to fit a manual box & 25.9" for a power steering box. this is for the earlier 230 & 250sl column with the extra u/v joint in the middle and the flexi rubber coupling at the box end...
For the later column, fitted to the 280sl with only 1 u/v coupling at the bottom ,the shaft should be telescoped to provide an overall length of 25.9"manual or 24.1" when fitting a power steering box....
It says you achieve these lengths by removing the steering wheel,splitting the u/v coupling on the steering box and withdrawing the telescopic shaft out of the top of the steering column.
Use a plastic mallet to telescope the shaft to the desired length then refit the shaft back in the column taking care not to alter the length again when pushing the bottom end into the coupling on the steering box........
on the underside of the column (where your knees go) are 2 guide holes (roughly 2" apart ) that allow you to check the length you have set.....

[Dave H]

just checked the underside of my column and indeed it has the adjustment guide holes..
unless somebody has experience in doing the power steering conversion themselves it seems pretty straight forward..(famous last words)
i just need the pump, steering box , hoses and brackets and no need for the shaft ......pleeeeeez tell me if this is correct

[weradus]

HI Dave, any success with the conversion ....

[Dave H]

Yes...no problems at all in doing the conversion .
my car is a late 250sl so it shares the same colapsable/adjustable column as the 280sl ,i bought a pump ,hoses and left hand drive power steering box from a nice guy in the states and my original shaft telescoped up to 2 inches to accomodate the larger power steering box.
The holes on the underside of the column allow you to set and hold the length so it does not alter further when you push the box onto the end of it.
I used a small cross head screwdriver for this....
I then took it all apart again as the car is undergoing a full rotisserie restoration.
If your car is a 230 or early 250 then the column is differant and non telescopic...pagodentielle or SLS in germany sell the" shorter lower shaft " that is required on these cars for a power steering conversion.I will dig out the part number .....i think they were around 200 Euro ?
 

[Dave H]

The lower (short) steering shaft for 230 and early 250sl power steering conversion is sold by Pagodentielle in germany.
The part number is 113 462 0601 and is 377.23 Euro.

[stickandrudderman]

€377!!!
I think a couple of swipes with a hack saw and a seam weld are a lot cheaper than that!