Steering box identification needed

[CraigS]

I have the attached steering box and have so far been unable to identify it. The markings on it are as follows:

On the top plate, the number is 187 461 00 05  AE and on the main box, 187 461 01 01  AE. Both casting numbers presumably.

I asked Tom Hanson and he said w187 220, however a friend of mine has a 220 Cab A and he said it is not the same as his.

Presumably this is for a RHD car.

Any ideas ? I will check my 300b next week, and see if it is similar, but I don't think so.

[porin 170/220]

I have 220 from 1952 and it has a little different ZF type steering box, But I know that 220 (W187) from 1954-55 has a little different steering box DF type.
According to numbers it should be from W187, and probably it is from that later period so it cannot be mounted to a chassis from 1951-53.
Best would be to ask someone with that car from 1954-55.

Porin

[Scott Montoney]

The ZF box on my 52 220 Cab B does not look like that one either.

[Owen]

Hi Craig,

This box looks very like the one fitted to my Right Hand drive 170S.  The difference I can see is in the mounting to the chassis, which is by 3 bolts through an adjustable sleeve parallel with the output shaft.  The one you have pictured appears as through the mounting bolt holes are cast integral with the body.  The layout is Right Hand drive, so suspect it's for a R/H 220 W187.

Regards

Owen

[CraigS]

I suspect you may be right Owen. Not a big demand for RHD W187 steering boxes I suspect but you never know. It is apparently either new or rebuilt, but needs a gasket seal kit. There is absolutely no play in it and my Mercedes mechanic has checked it out.

[Henry Magno]

It looks like a left hand drive box to me. The offset of the Pitman arm looks larger than on a 220, though.