I replaced both tie rods, the drag link, the steering shock, and the idler
arm bushings today. I stood the old and the new tie rods on end on the front
of the lower section of the tool box, held a 12" extension for the 3/8"
ratchet across the tops, and adjusted the new rod till the extension
appeared parallel with the open tool box lid. The car drives straight ahead,
hands off at 70MPH, but the steering wheel is about 5 degrees off level now
(was level before I started).
It is MUCH more stable now, but still not quite what I expect. Perhaps it
was the wind, a road I don't usually drive, etc. I'll drive it to work
Monday, and see how it is on I-35 before passing final judgement. If it
seems I've cured the worst of it, I'll get a quote for a stealership
alignment. I'm half afraid of what they'll want after their asking$30 for a
sunvisor clip!
On Sun, May 2, 2010 at 9:37 PM, Peter Frederick <psf...@earthlink.net>wrote:
That is my prescription for "loose front end" on a W124.
About 200,000 miles in normal driving will wear out the steering damper,
which then allows the normal impacts on the wheels to beat the tie rod ends
and drag link joints to death, along with the idler arm bushings. The
damper wears out only in the straight ahead position -- there will be a
"catch" where it moves freely only in that position, works normally
everywhere else, but that little bit of free play allows all the vibration
to get at the ends of the rods.
Take a look at the sway bar bushings while you are in there, they are
likely rock hard and shrunken as well. Won't have any effect on the
steering, but replacing them will eliminate a surprising amount of noise.
Peter
_______________________________________
Got the car back from the daughter today - jacked up only the left wheel
first, at the jack point, and found no loosness at all. The smallest
mocement of the wheel was visible in the steering wheel. I decided to repeat
the test, but jacking up the swame wheel under the lower control arm, right
by the wheel, to keep the steering parts closer to driving position. Still
no play at all.
Next I went around to the right wheel - jacked it up by the lower control
arm, and yes - there was some play that was not reflected in the steering
wheel.
I jacked it up at the jack point, put a jack stand under the "frame" rail,
got my wife to try to wiggle the wheel, while I rolled under to find where
the play was. My wife couldn't get the wheel to move consistantly, so I was
pushing with one hand from under the car, trying to keep the creeper from
rolling the other way with my feet, and feeling for loose parts with my
other hand. Felt like there might be play in the drag link ends. I'm going
to order both new tie rods, the drag link, and a steering shock tomorrow.
Maybe even the bushings for the drag links pivot arm thingy (forgot the
name).
An alignment at the stealership will follow the replacement of the parts --
then we'll see how it drives.
--
OK Don
Panic! (the national past time).
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