Author Topic: Play (looseness) in steering wheel  (Read 1369 times)

Tom in seattle

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Play (looseness) in steering wheel
« on: June 14, 2021, 23:14:49 »
I’ve read several old posts about looseness in steering.  In my case I have power assist.  My steering wheel has about 1/2 inch play which does not result in any movement of the steering linkages. I’ve read that this looseness may not be in the steering gear, but somewhere upstream from it. 

How can I determine if the slack is in the gearbox or somewhere between the steering wheel and the box?
Tom Averill
1967 250 SL Auto Euro Spec

Jonny B

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Re: Play (looseness) in steering wheel
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2021, 23:57:40 »
Tom,

The search function is your friend. Use the "Search" function in the string of options starting with "Home" it will search the whole forum. I used "looseness steering" (without the quotes) as the search string and got less than a page of items. Some good reading there, that may help.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

ja17

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Re: Play (looseness) in steering wheel
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2021, 06:08:58 »
Have someone jiggle the wheel back and fourth about a 1/2'" each way and look for where the play is happening. Use a flash light and start at the steering coupling under the hood.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

Mike Hughes

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Re: Play (looseness) in steering wheel
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2021, 13:37:04 »
If you can hear a slight "clicking" noise from under the dash down near the pedals, then you might have to replace the steering coupling at the base of the steering column.
- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
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