In detail: do-it-yourself steering rack repair for a Mercedes e211 from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
By itself, the steering mechanism does not cause any problems to the owner. However, the quality of the roads, frequent pits, hatches, curbs gradually lead to the repair of the Mercedes steering rack. And since steering is a complex mechanism, only qualified specialists can determine the malfunction, identify the causes and carry out repair work.
The rack and pinion control system is the most common control system in automobiles today. Its main advantage is higher control accuracy and fewer elements that wear out and require constant repair.
The rack and pinion mechanism is quite simple. It is part of the machine control that controls the direction of the machine and the movement of the wheels. The principle of operation of the rack and pinion mechanism is to move the main gear, which is associated with the steering wheel. When the steering wheel is turned, the rack and pinion mechanism moves in a given direction, which causes the drive to work, and the wheels turn.
The first sign that it's time to repair the Mercedes Sprinter steering rack is an unpleasant knock that comes from under the front axle. At first it is a slightly audible sound that is noticeable only on small bumps. Over time, it intensifies and begins to noticeably beat on the steering wheel.
A few months later, the driver perceives driving on rough roads as torture. The steering wheel literally beats in the hands, and drum roll is heard from under the wheels. However, this only occurs when the road surface is slightly uneven. Deep grooves and potholes the car passes without knocking, calmly.
The difference in gain on the control wheel at temperatures up to 30 ° C and its appearance when heated above 100 ° C also indicates that it is time to repair or replace the corresponding mechanism.
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In addition, the rack and pinion begins to leak and leaves stains from the transmission fluid in the parking lot.
In the rules of the road, traffic control malfunctions are in second place in the list of malfunctions in which the operation of the car is strictly prohibited. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the steering mechanism in order to repair the Mercedes W211 steering rack in time.
This malfunction may occur due to dirt on the roads. In case of damage to the protective anthers, it ends up on the rack and pinion mechanism, which causes high wear of the seals and, as a result, a leak.
Knocking or play in the motion control can appear for several reasons. Just their elimination will allow you to enjoy the smooth control of the car after the repair of the Mercedes Vito steering rack.
To identify all the reasons, you will need a complete disassembly and diagnostics of the machine. Basically, a knock in the rail appears due to wear:
- Guide bushings of the central shaft. May be caused by natural aging of parts or corrosion on the shaft.
- bearings. Occurs as a result of corrosion or natural aging.
- Toothed part of the central shaft and distributor. Mostly occurs as a result of uneven shaft wear or corrosion. Corrosion, in turn, appears due to the leakage of the anther and the ingress of moisture into the rail. Uneven wear causes damage to the adjustment return mechanism or malfunction of the gear part (often the result of incorrect installation).
- Adjustment mechanism. Occurs due to natural wear, corrosion, oxidation or damage due to improper installation of the steering rod.
In addition, as a result of shaft deformation, play may also appear in the auto control mechanism. The reason for this trouble is simple - damage to the shaft in an accident or collision with an obstacle.
If the steering wheel is hard to turn, the possible cause is a malfunction in the power steering.
Self-elimination of play can also cause the steering wheel to hard to return to its original position.
Of course, it is better to replace the failed part, but the steering systems on the Mercedes, as a rule, are above average. That is why the repair of the steering rack "Mercedes ML 164" becomes relevant.
Not all car dealerships can carry out repair work - this requires quite expensive and specific equipment. It is its presence that affects the cost of repairs.
First of all, to troubleshoot the steering rack in the arsenal of a car repair shop, you must have:
- keys for the steering rack hinge;
- pullers for hydraulic booster pumps;
- steering rack pullers;
- measuring instruments for checking the geometry of shafts;
- hull recovery tool.
In addition, the repair may require consumables such as bearings and seals.
Before proceeding with the repair of the Mercedes W210 steering rack, it is imperative to examine the chassis for malfunctions, since its malfunction may have similar external signs.
Starting the diagnosis, the first step is to alternately turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and the other. This way you can determine the position of all fastenings of the structure and check for discrepancies in the joints of the steering rods.
After diagnosing, troubleshooting begins:
- The assembly is completely disassembled and all parts are thoroughly cleaned, and the bearings and seals are replaced with new ones.
- After that, all components are checked for compliance with technical requirements.
- Remove corrosion from the stem and check for runout.
- Perform rod repair (balancing, chrome plating, grinding).
- Check the condition of the gear.
- Replace oil seals and seals of guide bushings.
If necessary, they repair the distribution tool or the Mercedes Vito 638 steering rack housing (the so-called sleeve).
After repair work, the control mechanism must be checked on a test bench for tightness, maximum pressure under load and bypassing the power steering fluid into both sinuses of the working cylinder.
Some problems in the operation of the car can be solved independently. However, such a question as steering repair is best left to professionals.
Greetings!
Let's start with the fact that I decided to carry out a complete troubleshooting of the steering rack.
The reason is the following...
After it was found dirty oil in GUR, with metallic inclusions, I decided to change it. I took the LUK power steering number 541 0186 10, gaskets, Lemforder tank (aka the original, the badge was cut down) and oil in the power steering …
I went to visit Vnukovo to the guys from the MERCEDES CHIMES - KM2 ...
Where he talked positively with the team and successfully replaced the power steering himself.
Thoughts were spinning in my head that the development could serve as a symptom of the wear of the steering rack, as well as biting the steering wheel in some modes.
Based on experience, I did not hesitate to call the HYDROLAB company, because their professionalism and an adequate price tag have already been verified!
And then I decided to make a knight's move and combine the revision of the rail, with the maintenance of the generator and the replacement of the stabilizer, stabilizer struts and its covers. Alas, here my initiative let me down, I did not hear the advice of the guys from HYDROLAB, to remove the steering rack from them without any problems. I went to MSC - Moscow Super Charge, which I later regretted very much ... But more on that in the next Blog ...
This blog is dedicated to the competent guys from HYDROLAB…
It all started with the fact that when I brought my removed rail from MSC, the guys smiled to say the least) The rail was removed without a cardan, thereby greatly complicating the process of installing it back in MSC).
So my rail was dismantled in 10 minutes, almost with my eyes closed! There were many defects (the main defect is the wear of the steering shaft housing, there was a strong wear.
Plus there was corrosion on the shaft.
The rail housing, at the place where the anther was attached, was defective, which caused corrosion.
After a very detailed analysis of the condition of the rail, I was offered repair options. I decided to lose SERVOTRONICS, in order to avoid the risk of jamming the steering wheel! Having called a number of companies specializing in steering racks, having heard their arguments regarding safety guarantees, I decided not just to insert the bushing, but to fix it correctly, unfortunately to the detriment of SERVOTRONICS. The main argument that the employees of other companies appealed to was their experience, they say, in our entire history, the sleeve has not been turned once))) I thought to myself, so I can become the first) Why do I need every time when I pile on almost 500 l / s car, think about what can jam the steering wheel at any time ?! That's why I lost SERVOTRONICS, and so far I have not regretted it, the speeds in winter are not very high)))
The result of the work was excellent, everything was done at the highest level! They even helped the “craftsmen” from MSC put the rail back)
I recommend the company HYDROLAB as professionals and decent people! Even the fact that after payment, I mentioned that I have a DRIVE club card, they still gave me a discount, although they could just keep silent or say next time) Based on the combination of factors, I was satisfied with the visit!
Practical and economical Germans spent four years and more than two billion euros on the development and testing of the Mercedes W211. To say that the result exceeded all expectations would not be entirely correct, because both manufacturers and buyers expected a lot from this machine. And so, in March 2002, the first W211, an E-class luxury car, rolled off the assembly line in Stuttgart.
Its appearance was preceded by a real detective story: in the middle of 2001, spy photos of this car appeared in the German automotive magazine Auto Zeitung and, no matter how the management of the Mercedes-Benz concern fought, it was not possible to find out how the information was leaked. But this scandal very successfully fueled the already great interest in the new model.
Officially, even before the start of sales, the W211 appeared in the film "Men in Black 2", showing the public in all its glory: a luxurious leather interior, an ergonomic dashboard, huge power and high maneuverability with a fairly large size - this is a list of only the main advantages of this car . The disadvantages of the Mercedes W211 include, perhaps, only its exorbitant price. Well, what do you want - this car is not for everyone. The Mercedes-Benz W211 is the perfect vehicle and luxury at the same time.
And although there are legends about the reliability of German mechanics, so that the W211 emphasizes the high status of its owner, it requires regular maintenance. In particular, the systematic maintenance, adjustment and repair of the steering rack, as the basis of the entire vehicle control system.
The main danger for the steering rack is the backlash, which eventually forms in all nodes of this mechanism. In fairness, we say that the owners of the W211 are faced with this problem after 200 thousand km. mileage is more than good. Paying tribute to the durability of the materials from which the rail is made, and the quality of the assembly of the mechanism, we note that this car is designed to drive on good roads, and few of the owners ride it along the "gullies" for fishing or to their mother-in-law at the dacha. Careful operation of the car and a careful driving style significantly extend the life of the rail.
But still, you can't argue against the laws of physics and Parkinson's laws. The first says that when moving parts come into contact, they wear out; the second asserts: what can break, sooner or later will surely break.And the first symptom that something is wrong with the rack will be play in the steering column. This is the so-called total backlash, that is, the result of adding up all the backlashes of the steering mechanism: between the teeth of the control gear and rack, between the wheels and tips, and in the bearings.
It is theoretically possible to get rid of backlash without resorting to the help of a professional, but, as practice shows, the result is deplorable. And the point is not that finding the adjusting mechanism and slightly tightening its spring is a daunting task, not at all. Any repair of the Mercedes W211 steering rack requires subsequent adjustment of the entire mechanism, and this requires not only certain experience, but also the availability of special equipment. Yes, and how much you need to tighten this spring, only a professional knows. I didn’t reach it - the backlash will appear again tomorrow; overtightened - the steering mechanism will rotate too tight, the load will increase not only on the rack components, but also on the hydraulic booster and, as a result, the process of their wear will accelerate.
The very process of diagnosing a rail, which allows you to accurately determine in which of its nodes backlashes have formed, is also not an easy task.
Hence the first and most important conclusion: the diagnosis of the Mercedes W211 steering rack and its repair should be carried out only at specialized service stations, whose specialists have the necessary experience and equipment for this. Do not forget that the rack is the main component of the steering mechanism of a car, it is responsible not only for the comfort when driving a car, but also for the safety of its driver and passengers.
The second conclusion: the sooner you detect the appearance of backlash and contact a car service, the more gentle the repair of the rail will be. At the initial stage of the problem, it can be solved by adjusting the mechanism, but the more advanced the “disease” turns out to be, the more serious its “treatment” will be - replacing heavily worn parts, or even the entire mechanism.
Rail diagnostics is carried out as follows: the car is installed on a flyover, or even better, on a lift, so that nothing prevents its front wheels from turning freely. While one master, with the engine off, slowly rotates the steering wheel from one of its extreme positions to another, his partner monitors the angle and uniformity of the wheels and listens for any extraneous sounds accompanying the operation of the steering mechanism. Knocking or crackling in the area of \u200b\u200bthe rail indicates either severe wear of its parts, or their deformation or even breakage. The latter can happen as a result of foreign objects entering the mechanism - stones or sand from the roadway, or even fragments of worn seals.
Another nuisance that awaits the owners of the W211 is the breakdown of the power steering (GUR). Most often, all malfunctions of this system are associated with the leakage of its working fluid. This is due to worn seals or connecting tubes. The standard power steering repair kit consists of a complete set of these seals, and the repair itself consists in replacing them and adding fluid. This procedure is not so much complicated as dirty, dreary and long, so it will also be very difficult to do it on your own.
