retrofit power steering

[Deadsfo]

Having just got my licence back to drive my over 3.5ton motorhome for the next three years, and thinking another three years of no power steering on a MERC 508 could leave me with muscles in my spit andneeding upper body surgery i have beem looking into retro fit power steering, Chris at www. talbot/power steering sounded promising ,it was a good price at £600 for an Electric powered steering system that had very good reviews ,however on reflection he was sceptical that his system would be man enough for a 4.6 ton vehicle,all the other Mercs he had done were 2 tonners ,so where do I go from here ,the chances of a system coming off a scrapper for a lefthand drive 1987 vehicle would seem slight or price prohibetive any ideas?

 

[271]

I would suggest that the easiest option would be to use standard Mercedes 508 power steering components, steering box, pump and pipes. The breakers must be full of them.
You would have the advantage of having standard steering Mercedes steering rather than a modified set-up, which may upset your insurance company.
Further to the above, manual steering is usually lower geared than power steering, so an electric system added to it may not give you all the advantages of the factory system.

 

[Byronic]

As you say it's would probably be next to impossible to find
a power steering set up off a 508d scrapper in this country particularly
a left hooker. As far as I'm aware the 508d was never fitted with
power steering on the RHD versions. And I'm almost certain it wasn't an
option on the LHD either, I asked of a Dutchman a couple of years ago
how he got round the well known heavy steering problem on his 508d,
apparently fitting 17.5" rims and wider section tyres was his remedy, seems counter intuitive but it's not. But it seems like an expensive option though, unless renewing tyres in any event and able to source some reasonably priced s/h rims.
Even if the later 609d 709d 711d 811d 814d power set ups fitted or could be adapted, it'd be very difficult to source even one of those in LHD form in the UK I would have thought.
A metre diameter steering wheel might be the best bet!

 

[Deadsfo]

I dont get the 17.5" wheel thing where does the advantage come from, I could start looking for an old bus steering wheel I'd look like mini me sat behind it ,I have fitted a knob on the rim of my steering wheel which gives you a bit of help ,so no good news,

 

[Deleted member 207]

Now it just so happens that I have 2 left hand drive power steering boxes off a 309 Merc (1983 and 85 models).
They are the LS models so should fit if you can find the mounting bracket - which maybe the same as the non power one.
One can be yours for nix, just pay transport and packing costs.

Biggest problem - they are sitting in my shed in Australia!!!!

That said I have found Borderlinx to be quite economical for stuff ex UK to Australia and they handle the lot from customs to delivery.

Electric power steering pumps are fine for steering boxes, pretty hopeless for rack and pinion though at the weight of a 508.

 

[Canalsman]

By chance I spent the evening next to the Canal du Midi with a couple who are on their third self converted Merc.

The husband is something of an expert on all things Merc and he told me the later 508D was fitted with power steering as standard. In his opinion converting your vehicle should be straightforward if you can locate the parts.

 

[Byronic]

I dont get the 17.5" wheel thing where does the advantage m, I could start looking for an old bus steering wheel I'd look like mini me sat behind it ,I have fitted a knob on the rim of my steering wheel which gives you a bit of help ,so no good news,

The advantage comes from the reduced frictional resistance, doesn't seem likely is why I made the counter intuitive comment. The dutchman insisted that it made a discernible difference.

The Merc. nomenclature gets damn confusing at model switchover in 1986, I
have plenty of info but it's all @ home (in Spain at mo.)

 

[Byronic]

I can inform you that (from my handbook) the power steering box on the likes
of the 609d 709d and the similar 508d has 2 options;

LS 2 A and the LS 3 D.
My 709d has the LS 2 A

Just for info. the manual steering box options are L 1.5 Z and the L 3 Z.

All these are for RHD vehicles as sold in UK of course.

 

[Deadsfo]

I can inform you that (from my handbook) the power steering box on the likes
of the 609d 709d and the similar 508d has 2 options;

LS 2 A and the LS 3 D.
My 709d has the LS 2 A

Just for info. the manual steering box options are L 1.5 Z and the L 3 Z.

All these are for RHD vehicles as sold in UK of course.

thanks this is a good start point

 

[Deadsfo]

By chance I spent the evening next to the Canal du Midi with a couple who are on their third self converted Merc.

The husband is something of an expert on all things Merc and he told me the later 508D was fitted with power steering as standard. In his opinion converting your vehicle should be straightforward if you can locate the parts.

Thanks its good info and a start point