Mercedes: hard to turn steering, mcpherson struts, vehicle wheels

Question
I recently bought a 1989 190e.The steering wheel is hard to  turn.It doesn't squeel or shake at all like other cars I have had with pump problems-it makes sharp turns-just hard to turn.There is clear fluid on driver's floor under the mat.

Answer
I would place the vehicle on jacks to free up the front suspension. Be sure to use jacks stands for safety. Once the vehicle wheels are free, you should be able to check the ball joints and other steering components for a dry socket or other problem. If the vehicle uses McPherson struts with the shock column that rotates in a upper bearing, then you may have to replace the strut.

I do not know it the clear fluid has any connection to the hard stearing problem.
Does the fluid have an odor, like break fluid.
If so you may have failing mastercylinder at the fire wall seal. With a lite, you should be able to see where the break arm eners the firewall if there is fluid seeping out and down under the matt.
Let me know OK?
Rob