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Garage => Mechanicals => Topic started by: daantjie on 14 July 2021, 10:59 AM

Title: Steering damper orientation
Post by: daantjie on 14 July 2021, 10:59 AM
Hi guys

I think this is likely in the "brain fart" category, but I have often thought if there is a "right" way for the steering damper to be fitted?  I looked on other sites and on the OE part it actually says "Rahmenseite" with an arrow, thus this side should be connected to the frame then.  Thus the thicker side of the unit bolts onto the frame, and the thinner side goes to the drag link.

Do you guys think this really makes a difference to the performance, or is this again just typical German OCD kicking in ::)

Attached is a pic on a W126, and this is RHD, but you should "get the picture" 8)

Cheers
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: ptashek on 14 July 2021, 01:32 PM
IMO it should make no difference, but both my W116 and the two W124s have it mounted  the same way as in your pic. I think it's even the same part number.
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: tcj on 14 July 2021, 02:28 PM
as usual EPC shows how to mount it:
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: daantjie on 14 July 2021, 02:43 PM
Quote from: tcj on 14 July 2021, 02:28 PM
as usual EPC shows how to mount it:

This is opposite of how it shows in my pic though and not how the arrow in pic on the part itself is showing to mount it.
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: tcj on 14 July 2021, 03:06 PM
curious, workshop manual shows this:
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: daantjie on 15 July 2021, 04:15 PM
Quote from: tcj on 14 July 2021, 03:06 PM
curious, workshop manual shows this:

I think is this the way it should be, the "fat" side connects to the frame.  Still wonder if this makes any difference though...
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: s class on 20 July 2021, 03:11 PM
I've always mounted them as per that wsm photo with the rahmenseite arrow pointing to the frame. 
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: s class on 20 July 2021, 03:20 PM
What's more interesting about tcj  s photo is that the bolt for the idler arm bush is installed from the bottom upwards which is contrary to the explicit instructions of the section of the wsm covering the idler arm.  Every original unmolested 107, 116, 126 I've ever seen has them installed from the top downwards.
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: daantjie on 20 July 2021, 05:19 PM
Quote from: s class on 20 July 2021, 03:20 PM
What's more interesting about tcj  s photo is that the bolt for the idler arm bush is installed from the bottom upwards which is contrary to the explicit instructions of the section of the wsm covering the idler arm.  Every original unmolested 107, 116, 126 I've ever seen has them installed from the top downwards.

I saw that too yes.  On the 6.9 if you replace the idler arm bushing then the starter is in the way so I think on most 6.9's the bolt is with the head at the bottom.  If you think about it this is a safety measure of last resort so the bolt does not drop out if the nut somehow works loose :o
Title: Re: Steering damper orientation
Post by: ptashek on 21 July 2021, 07:35 AM
Never spotted that one! But phew, checked mine and it's mounted the right way :)