Intermittent Power Steering Strangeness 1990 90

Hello

My 1990 90 has a strange problem....

The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the front up, and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is no play that i can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in the reservoir, and its not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a track rod ends - Will have them off at the weekend to double check - Richard if you read this price please?

I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems ok.

What else could it be??

Mark

9090
Reply to
Mark Solesbury
Loading thread data ...

...and Mark Solesbury spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...

What is "intermittently stiff"?

If it's stiff at the same point every time you turn (say) right, then that would point to stiff UJs in the column, dry/worn/damaged ball joints or TREs, or even damaged components binding somewhere.

If it's just stiff every now and then regardless of steering wheel position, then IME that points to the pump. Either it's not getting a consistent drive from the belt, or it's working intermittently itself.

Stiff column UJs are common on older vehicles, and can often be cured (temporarily) by a generous application of WD40 in the obvious places. Try that first - it can't do any harm, and it's cheap.

Reply to
Richard Brookman

Forgot to mention, that when its up in the air, its not stiff, so i suppose this eliminated the steering linkage...

Mark

9090
Reply to
Mark Solesbury

...and Mark Solesbury spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...

Reply to
Richard Brookman

Just read that back,.....

DOH!

Mark

909
Reply to
Mark Solesbury

mark its the steering pump itself , it may fail shortly completely .

mine did same thing , the steering got very stiff every now and again but all pipes etc were ok . i bought a new steering pump and fitted it , all was ok and ever since .

Mark Solesbury wrote:

Reply to
m0bcg

How much was a new pump? Can they be recon'd? Was it a bastard to fit?

Reply to
Mark Solesbury

On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:13:59 -0000, "Mark Solesbury" scribbled the following nonsense:

had this on my hybrid. Happened when moving slowly and using full lock, or close to full lock. Turned out that the key on the pulley was nackered. BAsiclally was allowing the pulley to spin on the shaft, reduxing the effectiveness of the PAS system. Was going to cut a new key, but then found the keyway was also worn. Ended up tig welding the pully onto the shaft and the problem went away.

Reply to
Simon Isaacs

I had exactly the same trouble with my 91 RR, it seems that aftera good engine de-gunk, there wasn't any sort of lubricant on the steering uv joints x2 that sit in the engine bay between the steering box and bulkhead. I oiled the 2 uv joints with engine oil 3 years ago and haven't had any trouble since!!

Reply to
Bill Payer

Morning

After a coating/drowning of WD40 on the steering linkage between the bulkhead and the box all seems to be well.

Only went for a small drive this morning as it was -5 outside and the window froze on the inside mid journy, therefore i decided to go to work in the Golf with climatronix.

Hopefully thats all it was!

Mark

9090

Reply to
Mark Solesbury

Follow it up with some heavier oil to reduce the frequency of having to repeat the operation.

Reply to
Dougal

On or around Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:13:59 -0000, "Mark Solesbury" enlightened us thusly:

fluid level?

I'd have a serious look at the belt, too, and the pulleys.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

On or around Mon, 23 Jan 2006 21:00:44 -0000, "Mark Solesbury" enlightened us thusly:

pricey ('bout 160+ notes, ISTR), yes but easier to exchange, and yes.

not that I've done one... but I did look into it sometime with a leaky one. Also I recall having one swapped on one of the minibuses, and it took the garage about half the day and an unfeasibly big hammer to move it.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.