Steering couplers

[Casey]

This is definitely bad on my '74 450SE.  You can watch it while somebody turns the wheel and see the play.  The one on my '73 parts car does not seem to be awesome either, though it's a little better.

They are supposedly NLA. 

I'm bothered by the whole design of them.  Apparently older ones had replaceable rubber bushings, but the newer style used on most (all?) W116's does not.  W123's have a very different - I think better - design, using a big flex disk.  But it doesn't quite fit on the W116 steering box spline.

What do people do to address this problem?  Might a W126 part fit?

[Squiggle Dog]

You can get them here: http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=5pepijqf3kd0iw454h1pii55&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1193992@300SD&year=1980&cid=26@Steering%20System&gid=7418@Steering%20Coupling%20Assembly or drill out the rivets, replace the bushings with rubber or brass, then use bolts and nuts in their place (thread lock might be a good idea).

[Squiggle Dog]

By the way, I removed a steering coupler from a 1979 W116 300SD and fit a 1968 W110 200D perfectly. I was lucky enough to find a nearly brand new coupler in my parts searches.

[TJ 450]

Are they really NLA?

I have seen the W123/W126 flex disc ones on 116s though. They're not ideal for the 116, because there is no heat shield around the steering box.

The 116 version is fail-safe.

Tim

[Kjhall65]

I'm in exactly the same boat at the moment.  My mechanic is on the lookout for a good second hand one.  From what he told me last week, they are still available new but at a price.

[TJ 450]

The steering coupling is available aftermarket; $53 at www.autohausaz.com, and also on eBay.

I wouldn't bother trying to get one in Aus; as it equals $$$, well that's my opinion anyway.

It's got a 115 part number so I can't imagine that going NLA for a while.

I would also check out mercedessource too.

Tim

[1980sdga]

Here's what I did:



3/8" bolts and 11/32" brake hose.  I tack welded the nuts.  I had to drill out the old "bolts".

This made a HUGE difference! A little steering box adjustment and I have almost no play in the steering.

[Casey]

I'm in exactly the same boat at the moment.  My mechanic is on the lookout for a good second hand one.  From what he told me last week, they are still available new but at a price.

MTC is an aftermarket brand I do believe.  The dealer price for them before NLA was $179.

[djetronicista]

they are still available thru MBZ dealers just replaced mine last month 167 plus tax.

[WGB]

There is a difference between early and late couplers.

The late coupler is still available (Very expensive ex aussi dealer (?$350) but reasonable ex-autohaus) but there may have been a change when the thickness of the shaft was changed.

If so the early one should coincide with the coupler in the smaller car.

Bill

[Squiggle Dog]

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/289876-116-steering-coupler-%246-00-upgrade.html

[jbrasile]

Guys,

116 steering couplers are available from MB as far as I know.
115 460 05 10 - $117.00 (130.00 list)

Tks,

Joe

[navigator]

Recieved my MTC soupler from SClass today!

Looking forward to more direct steering soon

[Big_Richard]

.

[TJ 450]

(possibly death by skewering)

That I would doubt, but not impossible. The steering column should still telescope, but that's an unknown indeed.

Tim