Login    Register

Power steering help please

Ask your technical questions here.

Moderators: WR 1mposter, The Swede, Megaman, danr55, WR1 Bro

  • Author
    Message

Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Sat Sep 07, 2013 10:45 am

It seems I have a weird problem with my power steering if any mechanics out there or anyone had similar?

Basically, when engine is at low revs I.e. parking, the steering is really heavy to turn as though there is no power steering help. When driving it seems ok.
My local garage thinks there are two valves, one in the pump and one on the rack? The car has always been used as a weekend car and may have caused a valve to stick?
Quite expensive to start changing the pump so anyone got any ideas please?? The power steering fluid looks clean.

I could live with it but just annoying eh :cry:
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby Megaman » Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:32 pm

Why not take it for a checkup at your local dealer or specialist?
:)
Image
User avatar
Megaman
Fords Number 1 Fan
 
Posts: 4206
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:40 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Power steering help please

Postby LordG » Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:36 am

+1 - I would definitely do this to.
LordG
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:08 am

Re: Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:10 pm

Just taken it to my local scooby garage but no definate answer apart from change belt and fluid first as relatively cheap before changing the pump! I could have told them that! lol
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Thu Sep 19, 2013 10:02 am

Update!
I changed the belt as it felt dry and a bit cracked. Also changed the fluid and not much difference.

At idol, the power steering doesn't seem to work still.

I think i have an internal leak in the pump. There are 3 'O' rings arn't there and one of the two internal ones may be leaking slightly? It therefore need more pressure before it works effectively perhaps?
I have sourced a second hand Sti pump so I think i'm going to fit that and see if it's any different.
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby Gary75 » Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:51 pm

swiss tone wrote:Update!
I changed the belt as it felt dry and a bit cracked. Also changed the fluid and not much difference.

At idol, the power steering doesn't seem to work still.

I think i have an internal leak in the pump. There are 3 'O' rings arn't there and one of the two internal ones may be leaking slightly? It therefore need more pressure before it works effectively perhaps?
I have sourced a second hand Sti pump so I think i'm going to fit that and see if it's any different.


Ive never had any issues with power steering, just good luck maybe? Have you checked the ball joints / top mount bearing etc. I had an issue with my transit, steering was heavy when parking, wouldn't centre after turning, lower ball joint was causing the problem. Replaced ball joint £16 job done.

Disconnect track rod ends both sides the suspension leg is now free to turn by hand, the leg should turn with no stiffness or hesitancy. Worth checking before condemning the pump and steering gear.

How many miles has your car covered?
Gary75
 
Posts: 777
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:45 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Sun Sep 22, 2013 8:46 pm

It's done 34k miles.

I've stripped the old pump out and my second hand pump turned out to be slightly different so had to order another one. Comes in a few days so will post results!

If anyone else changes the pump and finds a how to on the net, you can do it without draining the engine coolant! My how to said to disconnect the main top rad hose so have to drain. The rubber hose will flex enough to get the pump out! Saves time. :D
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby WR1 » Sun Sep 22, 2013 8:53 pm

Great mileage.
Prodrive - RaceDynamix 346 bhp - WhiteLine - AP Racing - Milltek - Cosworth
User avatar
WR1
 
Posts: 472
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:08 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Mon Oct 07, 2013 10:39 am

I said i would update! :wink:

I first got another pump but turned out it was to fit the Bugeye so wouldn't fit! :x

Got another one and fitted it myself and I think it's sorted now but without comparing to another I don't know how light/heavy the steering should actually be? I feels a little heavier than my standard WRX Turbo did so can anyone comment if the 1 is a bit heavier so more feeling? :?:

It now seems to work at low revs now which is great but I wouldn't say lock to lock wih one finger when stationary. More like a reasonable amount of muscle but it's defiately assisting.

One word of help if anyone else does this change themself:
The fluid is a sod to bleed! Meant to be self bleeding but you will have loads of air in there after taking the pump hoses off. This is how I got all the air out (otherwise it will sound noisey and juddery).

1. Undo the reservoir from the mounting and unclip the hose.
2. use a bit of wood to push the bottle up as high as it will go stiill connected to the hoses. The fluid level will just reach above the pump so the aim is to get it to be the highest point.
3. jack up the front wheels so the wheels are off the ground and nose up.
4. Slide the existing 3 spring type hose clips (1 on pump inlet and two on bottle) back along the hoses and fit new good quality juberlee clips. One the system is broken down, they are not good enough and will let air in. Even if you haven't touched the two on he bottle, trust me and fit new ones! only pence and it does make a difference!
5. Manually bleed by turning the wheels from lock to lock (grab actual wheel) vigerously 10 or 20 times. Do this with the engine off. This will get most of the air out.
6. Now turn the engine on and repeat from lock to lock turning the steering wheel.

You should now notice a difference and start to re-fit the bottle. Top up with fluid and jobs a kipper! :D

All in all it cost me about £100 and a garage would have charged £600 for a new pump and Fitting another £100-£200!

Any comments grateful!
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:32 pm

It has been in my local garage today for a check.

Thet said the UJ knuckle from the steering colum joining the rack seems stiff which can happen on car not used very often. Someone mentioned checking that so why didn't I?! :oops:

Not picked it up yet so cannot comment if helped but they said they have lubricated it and to drive to to help free it off.

Fingers crossed!
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby Gary75 » Tue Oct 22, 2013 5:45 pm

swiss tone wrote:It has been in my local garage today for a check.

Thet said the UJ knuckle from the steering colum joining the rack seems stiff which can happen on car not used very often. Someone mentioned checking that so why didn't I?! :oops:

Not picked it up yet so cannot comment if helped but they said they have lubricated it and to drive to to help free it off.

Fingers crossed!



I've had in the past on a Vauxhall Vectra, uj joint knock slightly when turning, my Focus does the same. As for going stiff due to lack of use :?: :?: once they have worn the only real cure is replacement. Easy change as I remember undo pinch bolts remove and replace.
Gary75
 
Posts: 777
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:45 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:29 am

Hi Gary,
Yeah, I was surprised they didn't change it and charge me more! they charged me £45 just to lubricate it! OMG. I suppose they did take the under tray off and garage prices never cheap.

It does seem a little better and he said it should free off even more with use so will just have to see I guess. No problems when actually driving as feels light but just serprised how much heavier it feels when parking compared to my Z4 daily drive.

Not sure how hard to change on the WR1 though?

It probably was a complete waste of time changing the pump! :toofunny:
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby Gary75 » Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:04 pm

Where are you located, if local can meet up and compare steering gears :D
Gary75
 
Posts: 777
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:45 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby Super si » Wed Oct 23, 2013 8:29 pm

swiss tone wrote:It has been in my local garage today for a check.

Thet said the UJ knuckle from the steering colum joining the rack seems stiff which can happen on car not used very often. Someone mentioned checking that so why didn't I?! :oops:

Not picked it up yet so cannot comment if helped but they said they have lubricated it and to drive to to help free it off.

Fingers crossed!



My wr1 was on 25k when I bought it & the previous owner said subaru had to re-grease the steering joints as it wasn't used often and was becoming stiff. When driving it home it became really bad at slow speeds, limped it home & slowly lubed the U joint up every couple of days (engine cold) now it's spot on with 32k on clock :D
Super si
 
Posts: 143
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2012 12:52 pm
Location: West yorkshire

Re: Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:44 am

Cheers for that super si!

Did you lubricate it yourself? what did you use, WD40 or actual grease? Did you have to take off the under tray to do that or can you reach it some other way? The garage did it so not actually seen it myself!
Did you just do the main UJ or are there other joints to lubricate?

I think it has got better so will have to keep doing that I think for a bit.
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Re: Power steering help please

Postby Super si » Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:30 pm

swiss tone wrote:Cheers for that super si!

Did you lubricate it yourself? what did you use, WD40 or actual grease? Did you have to take off the under tray to do that or can you reach it some other way? The garage did it so not actually seen it myself!
Did you just do the main UJ or are there other joints to lubricate?

I think it has got better so will have to keep doing that I think for a bit.


As subaru had already stripped it all down previously I just wd40/40+ it every couple of days for two week till back to normal then once a month. Just on the UJ from the top, down side of turbo heat sheild with the red straw your supplied to reach area. Spray then steering wheel full left spray....full right....sorted :wink:
Super si
 
Posts: 143
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2012 12:52 pm
Location: West yorkshire

Re: Power steering help please

Postby Super si » Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:31 pm

Could use lithium grease when all better to prevent muck/dust drying joint out
Super si
 
Posts: 143
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2012 12:52 pm
Location: West yorkshire

Re: Power steering help please

Postby swiss tone » Mon Nov 18, 2013 12:38 pm

Just an update!

Yep after all that, I hink it was just the UJ knuckle semi seized! So much for all the expense of changing the pump eh!!

I have been lubricating it with WD40 and then just bought some lithium grease so will put that on soon.

It has defenately got loads lighter now. It looks a sod to change being tight behind the engine but i think lubricating it has done the trick anyway thankfully.

Cheers for all the advice.
swiss tone
 
Posts: 131
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:27 pm

Return to Tech Help

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests

cron