Power steering issues with car?

1. user_32197 Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2009 Midhurst (near Portsmouth) Posts: 922 Black MK2 VTR

   #1 9th December 2010, 20:29

   Any clues at all. In short I was driving home from Portsmouth today and my power steering's playing silly beggars. What's going on with it is when I'm pulling the car to the left to steer the steering weighs an absolute ton but not sure why. When it's going to the right it's quite light but it's a pain to say the less.
   
   When the car is stationary it moves quite heavily like it's not kicking in properly.
   
   Does anyone have any idea at all what it could be, there's a kind of grinding noise coming from somewhere near the front right wheel.
   
   It may be irrelevant but the car is lowered 40mm front 50mm rear and is sat on 16 x 7 inch wheels
   
   Thanks in advance only it's kinda dangerous I'd imagine.
   
   Ta
   Ryan
2. dave_1 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2010 llwyngwril Posts: 2698 saxo vts, Landrover td5, 16 tonne skyline

   #2 9th December 2010, 20:41

   could be the rack thats sounds just like mine
3. Trobez L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Ashford (Kent) Posts: 67 MK2 Mango Furio 1.4 MK4 Fiesta 1.3

   #3 9th December 2010, 20:48

   sounds like your pump is working as you can still turn right ok, one of the rods in the rack that moves the fluid may have started to seize =/
4. user_32197 Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2009 Midhurst (near Portsmouth) Posts: 922 Black MK2 VTR

   #4 9th December 2010, 20:50

   if that the track rod end I'd need to check or is it something totally different?
   
   As for the rack I hear they're electrical not belt driven so a replacement rack would be needed I assume?
5. dave_1 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2010 llwyngwril Posts: 2698 saxo vts, Landrover td5, 16 tonne skyline

   #5 9th December 2010, 20:54

   I was told just to buy a new rack but to be honest the garge i used dowt ill be going back I bought a second hand rack from parts gateway for £40 but there is a thread on here where people bought them on ebay for £30 with some stupid amount of warrenty on them (thats if it is the rack)

   1 user thanked this post: user_32197
6. user_32197 Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2009 Midhurst (near Portsmouth) Posts: 922 Black MK2 VTR

   #6 9th December 2010, 20:56

   cheers, if it does turn out to be that I'll throw it at a garage and tell them to replace it under warrany because I've only had the car 3 months andI can't see it being wear and tear tbh
   
   Ta
7. Trobez L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Ashford (Kent) Posts: 67 MK2 Mango Furio 1.4 MK4 Fiesta 1.3

   #7 9th December 2010, 20:57

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by sr666 if that the track rod end I'd need to check or is it something totally different?

   nah its not track rod pal, in hydraulic racks there are 2 rods either side and 1 will move to allow the fluid to 1 way, and vice versa when you turn other way
8. user_32197 Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2009 Midhurst (near Portsmouth) Posts: 922 Black MK2 VTR

   #8 9th December 2010, 22:34

   cheers mate I'm a bit of a noob lol.
   
   Is there a way of seeing before you take the whole thing apart?
   
   Ta
9. user_32197 Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2009 Midhurst (near Portsmouth) Posts: 922 Black MK2 VTR

   #9 11th December 2010, 00:28

   quick question again could it be the power cable wearing out because it works when it wants to?
   
   Don't want to spend loads unless I have to is all and I've seen it's common sometimes for the cable to rub when cars are lowered?
   
   Thanks