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colkrang
Member
Date registered: May 2015
Location: Denver
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500
Posts: 27
| Front end parts for steering?
I'm looking at all the vendors and I don't think I fully understand what I need to do here.
I have steering play and some of my boots on my tie rod ends are torn and leaking. And i have a popping noise I think is one of those little bastards.
What parts are needed to do the steering ends from the pitman to the knuckle and then the center link between the two knuckles? And does any place have any sort of great price? |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: Front end parts for steering?
colkrang - 5/23/2016 8:24 PM
And does any place have any sort of great price?
There are several MBUSA dealers who discount off of MSRP. (There are also a lot who use Matrix Pricing, which is MSRP +++++.) Here are a couple of discounters:
https://www.oediscountparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=215242
http://www.oemercedesbenzparts.com/
I use the first one. 25% off MSRP, no sales tax and free shipping on orders over $50 weighing less than 10 lbs. |
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colkrang
Member
Date registered: May 2015
Location: Denver
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500
Posts: 27
| Re: Front end parts for steering?
Looks like FCP euro might be the cheapest for some of it on these parts.
How much play should there be in the pitman arm itself? With the car on or off I can move it about 8mm back and forth with a loud clank. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Front end parts for steering?
colkrang - 5/24/2016 8:13 PM
Looks like FCP euro might be the cheapest for some of it on these parts.
"FCP" ?? |
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G-AMG
G-Class DIY Host
Date registered: May 2006
Location: South Texas
Vehicle(s): '04 G55, '80 280GE, '99 S420, '98 E320, 2011 E350
| Re: Front end parts for steering?
DUTCH - 5/24/2016 8:38 PM
colkrang - 5/24/2016 8:13 PM
Looks like FCP euro might be the cheapest for some of it on these parts.
"FCP" ??
https://www.fcpeuro.com/?gclid=CPjbvbv_88wCFRCRaQod5MYIng
I have used them a few times.... Really decent prices, Fast Delivery, and FREE shiping for $49+ |
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colkrang
Member
Date registered: May 2015
Location: Denver
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500
Posts: 27
| Re: Front end parts for steering?
Yeah. I like the lifetime warranty no questions asked too. On everything.
That said any clue on the pitman arm play? I think that none is the only acceptable answer afaik. |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: Front end parts for steering?
Hopefully someone will share the workshop manual guidance for your truck because the short answer is "there's no such thing as none." The nature of recirculating ball steering boxed is to have a tight spot. The old fashioned way was to, with the front wheels off the ground, run the steering wheel through it's travel back and forth, find the spot in it's travel that has the LEAST play, and then adjust the screw on top of the box until the play is near zero in that spot, but not actually zero because that may bind (the LAST thing you want in your steering). Once you've done that, if other areas of the steering travel still have too much play, then the steering box needs to be replaced. But that won't e the case with your truck.
Looking for ball joint play involves, again with wheels off the ground and the steering wheel in a fixed position, having a friend try and turn the front road wheel on the STEERING BOX SIDE of the truck to the left and right (grasp front and rear of tire and try to force the wheel as if making a right or left turn), and lying under the truck looking for relative movement between the parts involved.
If I remember correctly, some of those ball joints aren't available separately but can only be sourced with the whole rod, but I can't remember which ones.
I think there have been some other threads on this, but can't remember specifically.
Good luck!
-Dave G. |
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colkrang
Member
Date registered: May 2015
Location: Denver
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500
Posts: 27
| Re: Front end parts for steering?
Went to perform adjustment today, and it didn't go well really. The hole in the top of the fender for reaching in behind the headlight to get at the top of the shaft screw is not lined up. Or even close. The hex portion of it is more or less on the sheet metal.
I checked my box bolts and they are tight tight. I probably can't do this adjustment in the vehicle.
Anyone else ever have this issue? |
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colkrang
Member
Date registered: May 2015
Location: Denver
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500
Posts: 27
| Re: Front end parts for steering?
Well, I managed to get a wrench on it. That sucked.
It didn't help either - I turned the adjuster a little and the arm was still loose. Then I turned it a lot and it took 20 or so revolutions to get it to tighten up any. I suspect my box may be toast.
Eve after rotary tool cleaning the shaft down to remove any rust etc it still started leaking immediately. I'll be pulling it down to see what the deal is. |
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