Knocking noise from steering when changing steering direction while stationary or when driving slowly
Topic number

LI46.35-P-068182

Version

1

Function group

46.35 Electrical steering

Date

06-01-2018

Validity

MODEL 205 except 4MATIC (code M005)
MODEL 213 except 4MATIC (code M005)
MODEL 238 except 4MATIC (code M005)
MODEL 257 except 4MATIC (code M005)

Reason for change
Reason for block

Complaint:

Knocking noise audible from the steering when changing the steering direction while stationary (with the engine running) or when driving slowly.

Attachments
File

Description

movie.mp4

Knocking noise while moving steering wheel left and right

Cause:

Possibly play between thrust piece and toothed rack.

Remedy:

Adjust the play between the thrust piece and the toothed rack using the following method.
1. Remove rack-and-pinion steering.
2. Attach rack-and-pinion steering to steering gear housing mount.
Note: The rack-and-pinion steering may only be adjusted once. If there is a colored mark (10) on the thrust piece, an
adjustment procedure has already been performed in the past. In this case the rack-and-pinion steering must be replaced.
Please note: When performing the work below ensure that the workplace is kept clean while the repair is being carried
out. Before starting the repair, remove loose dirt on the steering housing (1) without using a cleaning agent.
Only the specified tools may be used.
Steering gear housing mount: 221589013100
3. Move rack-and-pinion steering to center position.
Note: The notch on the protective cap (6) must be aligned exactly with the marking (7) on the steering housing (1).
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Socket wrench: 203589043103
4. Detach boot (4) and push in direction of tie rod end.
5. Carefully pull rubber plug (3) out of adjustment screw (2).
Note: The rubber plug must be replaced.
6a. Determine play between thrust piece and steering rack.
This step is only applicable for vehicles with a mileage in excess of 93,000 mi! For all other vehicles, continue with
step 6b.
To do this, mount dial indicator holder (02) on steering gear housing (1) with centering pin. Then remove centering pin
from holder (02) and insert dial indicator (01) into holder (02) over adjustment screw (2). Move toothed rack (4) back
and forth using a torque wrench (03) and an open-end wrench bit. The specified test torque of the toothed rack (4)
must not be exceeded. Otherwise it is not possible to check the play correctly.
--> If the play is greater than 0.6 mm, replace rack-and-pinion steering.
--> If the play is less than 0.6 mm, continue with step
7. Test torque: 20 Nm
Dial indicator holder: 212589013100
Dial indicator: 001589532100
Open-end wrench bit: 201589000100
6b. Measure play between thrust piece and steering rack.
This step is applicable for vehicles with a mileage of less than 150,000 km!
To do this, mount dial indicator holder (02) on steering gear housing (1) with centering pin. Then remove centering pin
from holder (02) and insert dial indicator (01) into holder (02) over adjustment screw (2). Move toothed rack (4) back
and forth using a torque wrench (03) and an open-end wrench bit. The specified test torque of the toothed rack (4)
must not be exceeded. Otherwise it is not possible to check the play correctly.
Test torque: 20 Nm
Dial indicator holder: 212589013100
Dial indicator: 001589532100
Open-end wrench bit: 201589000100
7. Remove holder (02) and dial indicator (01) from steering housing (1).
8. Adjust play between thrust piece and toothed rack.
Note: It is essential to ensure that the play between the thrust piece and the toothed rack is adjusted only by screwing
the adjustment screw in the "tight" (inward) direction. This procedure is important to ensure that the play between the
thrust piece and the toothed rack remains correctly adjusted!
Detaching tool: 205589000700
9. Mount holder (02) on steering housing (1) with centering pin.
Dial indicator holder: 212589013100
10. Remove centering pin from holder (02).
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11. Insert dial indicator (01) into holder (02) over adjustment screw (2).
Dial indicator: 001589532100
Dial indicator holder: 212589013100
12. Check play between thrust piece and toothed rack (4) with dial indicator (01).
Specified play: 0.005 to 0.01 mm
--> If the play is too small, the adjustment screw must be loosened again by 90° and the adjustment repeated (from
step 8).
--> If the play is too large, the adjustment screw can be screwed in further.
Note: The adjustment may not be repeated more than 3x with the same adjustment screw. After this, the adjustment
screw must be replaced.
Dial indicator holder: 212589013100
Dial indicator: 001589532100
Open-end wrench bit: 201589000100
13. Use socket wrench to turn toothed rack by input shaft of rack-and-pinion steering from stop to stop.
Note: The toothed rack must move smoothly.
Socket wrench 203589043103
14. Caulk adjustment screw at 3 points 120° apart (11) using a center punch and mark position relative to housing
with a colored mark (10).
Note: The caulking is important because a new adjustment screw is not used with this repair method.
15. Carefully press rubber plug (3) into adjustment screw (2) using a suitable tool (e.g. size 4 Allen key).
16. Mount boot.
Note: Grease the seat of the boot on the steering gear housing and tie rod all round.
17. Detach rack-and-pinion steering from steering gear housing mount and install.

Attachments
File

Description

001.pdf

Steering components (2 sides)

Symptoms
Chassis/suspension / Steering system / Noises / Cracking
Chassis/suspension / Steering system / Noises / Chattering/knocking
Chassis/suspension / Steering system / Noises / Clattering

Parts
Part number

ES1 ES2 Designation

A 210 988 01 28

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Stop plug

Quantity Note
1

EDWMARK

EPC

Stop plug for thrust piece adjustment
screw

X

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Operation numbers/damage codes
Op. no.

Operation text

Time

Damage
code

Note

46490 17

WIS-References
Document number

Title

AR46.20-P-0600LW

Remove/install rack-and-pi- Model 205, 213
nion steering

Remedy

AR46.20-P-0600LWO

Remove/install rack-and-pi- Model 238
nion steering

Remedy

AR46.20-P-0600FR

Remove/install rack-and-pi- Model 257
nion steering

Remedy

AR46.40-P-9998LW

Remove/install boot

Model 205, 213, 238

Remedy

AR46.40-P-9998FR

Remove/install boot

Model 257

Remedy

06-01-2018 8:21 PM
© Copyright Daimler AG

Note

EDWMARK

Allocation

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