I have an '82 300CD with 215K. My steering is god awful loose. The ball joints are tight. I adjusted the screw on top of the steering gear box and locked it back down, no difference. How likely is it that the worm gear (or whatever is in there) is worn past serviceability? Is this a rebuildable item or do I need to order new?

 

Did I say ball joints? I did didn't I? Did I mention I'm blonde?

I meant tie rod ends. Yeah, everything outside the box is tight. I can grab the steering shaft going in and rock it and there's no reciprocal rocking coming out the other end.

 

This gear adjustment is opposite from say, a Chevy!! You turn the adjuster counter clockwise to tighten the adjustment. If you turn clockwise you will add to the play! And it does not take much to affect less play. A quater turn then road test.

 

ahhhh carnut. I bow before your wisdom. You are the man who correctly put all the clues together to show that I, a blonde, was in fact turning the damn screw the wrong way. I guess in my defense, neither Haynes nor Chilton (those turds) has a section in their book describing said procedure. Since you have saved me some $400 for a rebuilt unit, I offer you my very humble and sincere thanks!

 

So happy to have found this thread- would never have considered backing out the adjusting screw to tighten... indeed, not mentioned in the manuals that I have... I was just about to drop $300 on a rebuilt box! Thanks to all y'all.