Page 1 of 2

Re: Mercedes E63S thread

Posted: Fri May 16, 2025 6:19 pm
by kevm14
Left front tie rod adjuster was loose. There is still another clunk when jiggling the wheel across the center position. It seems to be the rack. The input shaft to the rack seems to have some play so that's nice.

A2184607800

https://www.mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/o ... YwLTc4LTAw

There is an adjustment procedure and I'll post that as an edit. I could attempt it I suppose. Posted.

Re: Mercedes E63S thread

Posted: Sat May 17, 2025 6:03 am
by kevm14

Re: Mercedes E63S thread

Posted: Sat May 17, 2025 12:39 pm
by kevm14
I called dealer service to inquire if my car was covered under the steering rack campaign and it sounds like the previous owner brought it in and they closed the recall in 2020. So that must mean they put that wax coating on the bolts of the rack or I guess replaced the bolts and then put the wax coating on them. If the rack was replaced then, I don't think it would have this much play.

Anyway I asked about other open campaigns and the lady couldn't find anything on the emissions recall that I think is open according to a letter I got last year. So I'm putting this here.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w212-amg/899 ... 5-a-3.html

Re: Mercedes E63S thread

Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 8:48 am
by kevm14
Just got an e-mail notification from Rockauto. I requested to be notified if they ever got a new Bosch rack in and they just did. Very interesting. I am tempted.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 8%2B1B674G

This is new, and with outer tie rods. I'm not sure the dealer one comes with outers and it is reman. And it is $2700. Plus core.

Re: Mercedes E63S thread

Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 9:07 am
by kevm14
Ordered Bosch rack from Rockauto.

Another $2,200 into chassis improvements. I am pretty sure all this stuff will be worth it. If I wanted a Corolla, I would buy a Corolla.

Re: Mercedes E63S thread

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:40 am
by kevm14
kevm14 wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 8:48 am Just got an e-mail notification from Rockauto. I requested to be notified if they ever got a new Bosch rack in and they just did. Very interesting. I am tempted.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 8%2B1B674G

This is new, and with outer tie rods. I'm not sure the dealer one comes with outers and it is reman. And it is $2700. Plus core.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BPSKS00001959

I was worried about the pedigree of this since I saw the made in China on the motor. But the Napa listing is a total relief I think.
Bosch steering racks are produced and tested to OEM specifications. At Bosch we ensure that each installer has the peace of mind that our racks are easy to install, will resolve the problem first time every time and offer a long uninterrupted service life.

- Original design, not reverse engineered. Bosch steering systems are formerly know as ZF Lenksysteme steering systems.
- Pre-Assembled with inner tier rods. Intermediate Rack.
- Original NEW unit
- Bosch steering racks are manufactured to the latest specification following the OEM standard
I do suspect this will require programming so I will consult with the Benz Ninja to see what he wants to do. He will either want to copy the software from the old module and copy it into the new one, or attempt to look up the latest and apply that. I MAY be able to do the former myself, but not the latter (unlike on my S550 which uses DAS and has full offline programming).

Very interesting. Also figured out the motor crosses to a Gen 6 Camaro (like 17-24 or something), complete with made in China label.

14 E63S: steering rack replacement

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2025 7:36 am
by kevm14
Some shots of various part numbers. I was using these to determine the pedigree of the rack. Took me a bit to get my bearings for some reason. At first I didn't even think this had a module on it but then I found the plug.
20250613_063226.jpg
20250613_063229.jpg
20250613_063240.jpg
20250613_063257.jpg
20250613_063306.jpg
20250613_063311.jpg
20250614_062030.jpg
20250614_062636.jpg
20250614_063318.jpg
20250614_063322.jpg
20250614_163415.jpg
In summary:
- Looks like a 2023 casting
- Looks like 2024 final assembly
- Motor crosses to a 17-24 Camaro rack and is made in China like the Camaro motor
- Made in Hungary
- Full pedigree worthy of not just the Bosch name but ZF
- I still don't know if Bosch is still making these so I think I got lucky that Rockauto tracked one down for me

Re: 14 E63S: steering rack replacement

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2025 9:08 am
by kevm14
Benz Ninja read out all my software and coding (probably for the whole car based on how long it took). Doesn't look like I can do much myself, at least not through Xentry. I think Vediamo or DTS Monaco (which this laptop has) could be used but I don't know how to use them to read and flash. They are tools outside of the protective Mercedes walled garden so you can do more things as well as break everything.

I did save some info for future reference.

Re: 14 E63S: steering rack replacement

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 8:40 pm
by kevm14
Tackled this today. I took my time because of my hand and also trying not to make one of my classic dumb mistakes. But it was really straight forward.

I studied the directions one last time and noted that they want you to replace the lock nut for the steering shaft. So I started the project by going to the dealer and bought their two lock nuts for the steering shaft bolts. They are a 140 part number, which is fun.

Put the car on the lift and my plan was to secure the steering wheel with the seat belt. So I did.
20250619_095615.jpg
Then I measured the toe from the two outer most continuous tread sipes. 66-5/8".
20250619_101818.jpg
20250619_101844.jpg
Buzzed tie rod nuts off.
20250619_105704.jpg
The instructions point you to the process to remove the lower steering shaft. But I looked more closely and it seemed like I could just unbolt the pinch bolt that holds the shaft to the rack input shaft. So I did that and worked on prying the shaft off the spline, which wasn't too difficult. I was a little worried the steering shaft might be tricky so this was going well.
20250619_105713.jpg
Disconnect the main power plug and the CAN plug. There are two bolts that secure the rack to the subframe, two that go into a stiffening plate that also attaches to the subframe, and a single small bolt that goes sideways instead of up directly into the rack. This was fine until I realized the two long bolts that go into the subframe actually are through bolts, with nuts on top. Access was tight but after studying it I was able to slip a wrench in the various crevices and hold the nut. I give them points because this seemed thought out.

The nut on the pass side was trickier but once that was all loose, I removed the tie rod ends from the knuckle and this thing was ready to drop onto my chest. Through all that I think I easily had it out in under an hour and I think an experienced tech could do it in like 25 minutes. It's so easy. It actually might be easier on 4Matic cars, based on some of the RWD-only steps I saw.
20250619_114158.jpg
Oh look, ZF Lenksystems like Napa claimed. And what's that? Made in China? Yes, the original steering motor was made in China, all the way back in 2013 or whenever this was made.
20250619_114210.jpg
20250619_114218.jpg
20250619_114243.jpg
20250619_115441.jpg
Had the new rack loosely bolted in place less than 15 minutes later. Again, it's incredibly easy the way they put the car together.
20250619_120751.jpg
This shot shows the reach around action for the wrench to hold the nut on top of the subframe. Not bad once I devised the right angle of attack.
20250619_120801.jpg
20250619_120828.jpg
20250619_120852.jpg
20250619_120858.jpg
I did put thread locking compound on the little M8 because I seem to recall the internet saying that one can get loose.

Assembly is the reverse of removal. The two main bolts take angle torque (as well as the tie rod ends) and I think everything else is regular torque.

Last step was to adjust toe. It looked like about 1/8" too little toe which is...remarkably close to what it was before. But I was able to toe in each side about 1/16" and get it to the same as I measured before I took stuff apart. I do feel like this tape measure toe is probably enough to drive the car around before my alignment next week.

I decided to move onto the stabilizer bar next.

Re: 14 E63S: steering rack replacement

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 8:50 pm
by kevm14
Then I contacted the Benz Ninja who said he would be with me in 20 minutes. And he was.

He hides the screen when he does more proprietary operations (things outside of Xentry) but he did flash the newest module software into the rack. I thought he would do the steering stop calibration routine but when I looked at it, you have to drive the car slowly to do it for some reason. I mean MAYBE it would work on a lift but I wanted to follow the directions. It clearly said >3mph for preconditions and in my experience, when they say that, they mean it (but I didn't try and it would PROBABLY be harmless).

Does look like newer software, and more Bosch branding, as Napa told us they bought ZF Lenksystems.

I'll show some phone pics just because they display easier than the PDFs but the PDFs have screen prints of what's here basically.
20250619_150958.jpg
I wanted to see if everything was happy and while no modules had codes, clearly the steering stops were not taught in.
20250619_151409.jpg
I thought I could just run it...
20250619_151613.jpg
But it wanted some conditions I could not meet at that time, mainly because the car was still on the lift and this claims >3mph is required. So I'll get to this tomorrow. I don't expect to have any issues.
20250619_151805.jpg
One thing I will say is I wiggled the steering wheel with the car on the lift and it seemed like there was still some clunking and some play. But when the Benz Ninja had me start the engine, I tried again under normal steering assist and it seemed to have almost no play. However, I probably never tested the old rack like this so maybe it would have done the same thing. If this doesn't resolve my steering play, my options are take a second look at the steering shaft (which I think is fine), or maybe fiddle with the adjustment on my old rack and see if I can change anything without causing binding. Or attempt to do the actual tightening procedure. When it's not on the car, rack play seems infinitesimal though the input shaft does rock radially so I guess if this were to decrease from the procedure that would give me some confidence. Confidence for what, I'm not sure. I could throw the old rack back in. I could attempt to adjust the new rack. Neither of these really excite me so I am just going to hope the new rack solves my issue.