I just can't believe the difference in the steering feel of my two cars. The wagon (1994 W124)is very precise and I can almost feel the texture of the road as opposed to the sedan (1999 W210) which is a little more responsive but I lose that 'feel' and become a little detached from the driving experience. I think it is because the wagon steering is recirculating ball and the sedan is rack and pinion. Can someone comment on this and maybe explain or supply diagrams as to how they work?

Thats weird a lot of people describe the two the other way round. Rack and pinion is precise while RCB's are not. I don't know I've alway like the feel of the RCB on my W124 but I guess its all an opinion thing.

I've driven both that are both ways. Steering is just one of many varyables that affect how a car feels. By itself rack and pinion is more precise than the recirculating ball but other things can have more influence on handling.

I have an '87 wagon and a '98 E-class, so I have one of each as well. They are different, but both are pretty darn good. I actually prefer the rack & pinion of the later car. The effort is very light; it doesn't require much muscle to move the wheel. However, there is very little play, and the effort builds naturally as the front tires are worked harder. Feels as if there is very little friction in the mechanism as well. It is very communicative steering - just the way it is supposed to be. I very strongly disagree with the comment that there is no road feel.

The 124 is similar, but the effort level is higher. There is less power assist, certainly, but also more friction. The RCB setup also has more play - which is normal compared to an R&P system. Still, it's pretty darn good; just that I think the newer car is an improvement.

When the W210 came out in the fall of 1995, I had a chance to take one out for a spin. I wasn't too impressed with the R/P steering. It's didn't seem as "rock steady" as my 190E. it hunted and wandered lots at 120 km/h.

Now, we own a 1998 E300 with the same steering, and it seems to feel VERY different from that early 1996 car I drove. Did they change anything? Our 1998 is really steady and provides lots of road feel, but maybe isn't s solid at-center as the R/B in the C230.

I find the R/P better around town, and the R/B better on the open highway. All MHO, of course...

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

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rack & pinion inherently has less play than recirculating-ball, and hence feels more precise.

recirculating-ball however, is more resistant to kickback, i believe.

German cars are known to have that dead spot on-center (i.e., when the wheels are pointing forwards), as a feature for high-speed cruising stability, so the car is not overly sensitive to small steering wheel movements in the straight-ahead position. Probably the early W210s were too sensitive in the on-center position, making the car react too much to small movements of the wheel at speed. Some car magazines call this dead-spot some sort of autobahn "sneeze protection" - imagine crusing at 130mph with the wheel too sensitive and you sneeze, and inevitably move the wheel ...

there are many other factors that affect the steering feel of a car: caster, camber, steering axis location & steering offset (i.e. the location of the steering axis on the road, vs the center of the tire patch), weight distribution, even choice of tire. Even aerodynamics, in the case where the change in downforce varies greatly with speed.

there was an article in R&T or C&Driver about 2yrs ago on the steering mechanism of the BMW M3, and why it was considered the benchmark in steering feel. Very interesting read for the technically-inclined ...

Excellent comments from all. I am not complaining about the steering feel of the E300TD - just different from the '94. The E300TD almost feels a little tail happy in tight corners at moderate to high speeds. Maybe bigger back tires would help with stability? This car has tremendous torque from a standing start - puts down rubber easily.

Brothers of The Benz,
Having spent some time with Saginaw Steering of General Motors;
I could elaborate on the excellent features of the straight ahead high center that is set on the ciculating balls and nut or the amount or thrust required to get power assist; but you didn't ask how to build one.
The prime reason G.M. made the change over was COST. A diecast aluminum housing and circular seals on the right and left chambers verus the ferrious casting in the old units and the many support componentrs.
This was right in line with front wheel tail draggers. The steering performance just fit right in with the new front wheels drive auto.
Just count the components from one to the other.
Cost Reduction with shorter life is what the rack and pinion brought to the party; the influence of the imports.
My W-124030 is still on the original settings with no leaks, excellent feel of the road with rumble effect not present. 15 years ans 188,000 miles.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

I was amazed because I have driven nothing except Rack and Pinion since the early 80's. (mostly British and VW) I thought I would hate the so called slower recirculating-ball l but love the feel. They sure do it much better than the Americans ever did it! My BMW 7 series is also very nice especially at speed. My Miata is still going strong at about 120 MPH but you do not want to sneeze at that speed! Even the German R&P seems to have a better on center feel. Give me a real twisty road and I do prefer the Miata Rack and Pinion though.

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Currently
1991 Mazda Miata 174000
1991 Subaru 189,000 Winter beater

got rid of:
1984 VW Vanagon 195,000
1976 350SE Euro 185,000 KM
1973 280SE 4.5 (boy do I regret that)
1980 280SE European W126 4 speed manual (miss it)
1989 BMW 735iL 119000 (good riddance)

Brother of The Benz, Silver Boat
You got it right in feeling the difference between the Two.
The Circulating balls and nut are so superior to the throw away units, all cars should have the best not the least expensive.
But with the advent of the disposable car what can you expect?
Keep it between the ditches.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

I have driven 210s too and on a short drive, at least, have been impressed by the increased precision over my W124, as well as decreased steering effort. Still, part of me can't help but assume that those very thoughtful engineers designing the W124 made the decisions they did for a reason. For example, I suspect that steering effort was deliberately chosen to give road feel. I know that in my car I can tell, just by virtue of the noticable DECREASE in steering effort, that I'm on an icy patch of road. I appreciate that feedback!

Historically, MB has made its steering wheels a larger diameter specifically so that if your hands were at 9 and 3 on the wheel, they would be shoulder width apart to decrease fatigue over long drives. Do you think they put that same level of obsessiveness into the new models?

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Steve
'93 400E

rec ball will last almost forever.rack and pinion will not.The sealing boots go bad letting dirt into the rack.In time good by rack.Mercedes changed to rack and pinion because it was cheaper for them no other reason.

I read that the reason MB provide large steering wheels was for leverage in case
the power system fails.

120.. 130.. 140 mph... AAAHHH CHOOO!!! Why am I upside down in the ditch in a ball of flames???

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