power steering

Hi Smokeyone,

It could be the drive belt for the power steering compressor/pump that's a bit slack hence the compressor isn't producing enough power. Once the engine is running faster (e.g. on the motorway) you'll notice it less.

My Defender 110 is a bit heavy at low/stationary speed and makes some creeking noises too.

If I go through deep water and splash the drive belt it slips on the pulleys and I can loose power steering altogether! A bit scary.

Matt

OK. The chrome balls dry up. If you haven't enough lubricant in them they will stay dry. Have you topped up the swivels recently? A quick test will be to put a smear of EP90 over the visible part of the chrome balls using a tint free rag. The retry your steering.

Lee D

On or around 14 Sep 2004 23:03:38 -0700, snipped-for-privacy@btopenworld.com (Smokeyone) enlightened us thusly:

sounds like a power steeering weakness.

is the oil level low?

Another couple of ideas: Tyre pressure, and also the universal joints in the steering column- probably the most likely - give them a quick squirt of WD to see if that solves the problem. Then replace if necessary.

At motorway speeds you probably wouldn't notice any steering stiffness problems as you're hardly moving the wheel- if you did the kind of movement normally encountered parking/ low speed driving at m-way speeds you'd tip the car over!! Hence you're less likely to notice it.

Andy

Thanks everyone for the advice Smokeyone

PS the oil level is okay