PAS woodruff key and flange

[mattrosersv]

Check out the Grief forum if you plan to go electric. There is a recent thread (this week) on here about electric PAS pump

I have done it to to Chimaera and when the Cerb pump gives up I will definitely go the same way.

Matt

[mattrosersv]

Check out the Grief forum if you plan to go electric. There is a recent thread (this week) on here about electric PAS pump

I have done it to to Chimaera and when the Cerb pump gives up I will definitely go the same way.

Matt

[ukkid35]

ukkid35 said:

I will be taking mine apart again in a couple of weeks as I will be fitting a new Woodruff key, which I believe to be 3mm x 6.5mm.

The correct size appears to be 3mm x 5mm. The purpose of the 8mm grub screw is to clamp against the Woodruff key, because the coupling is not a very tight fit on the shaft, and therefore the key tends to cant over.

[ukkid35]

Jimm218 said:

I did find a small grub screw in the flange. Not the size of the one in the picture in the other thread. It looks like it is forming a stop rather than bolting into the shaft.

I wish I'd paid more attention to that!

The small grub screw on mine was being used as a stop against the Wodruff key, to prevent the coupling from sliding forwards and de-coupling from the pump. I omitted the small grub screw and despite adding the large grub screw the coupling migrated forward and I lost PS at the beginning of TiTT12.

It's finally working again. What I should do now is add a cover to prevent debris (probably kitty litter) getting jammed in again.

[savroo]

Hi hoping someone will reply back to this message as its a old thread.


When engine is cold so power steering fluid still cold and going around a tight roundabout, steering turned 180 degrees I hear a rubbing noise I thought it was the tyre rubbing against a wheel arch but I have plenty of clearance so I'm sure it's my woodruff key broken. Apart from that the power steering works fine. I have a few questions regarding this issue:

1) does this failure still happen on the later more robust versions what diameter difference between old and new


2) does the pulley and spindle just pull off or are they bolted together. Looks like just pushed on.

3) Is the pulley and shaft tapered or a straight shaft

If it's just a push fit I can see why this failure happens. Woodruff key is only designed for location never to grip and spin a pulley or shaft. In this case it's spinning the parts and taking on the full load. For example you can remove a woodruff key from a camshaft and pulley, it's the actual force of the bolt pulley and camshaft which prevents anything from spinning apart.

Very poor design for the woodruff key to take the load.

[ukkid35]

1 - Don't know for sure, but I think late 98 or 99 onwards had uprated aux shafts
2 - Slip on/off, except the failed Woodruff key can make it jam
3 - Straight
4 - I wouldn't worry about the PAS Woodruff, it's inconvenient when it fails but it's a relatively straightforward job. Instead worry about the Woodruff keys on the Oil and Waterpumps, if one of them fails it will ruin your day.

Edited by ukkid35 on Friday 5th June 13:41

[savroo]

Thanks for the feedback.

I would have the late type.

Thinking about this I need to check tonight if it makes this sound when the steering is fully locked. This is when the steering pump is working its hardest. If no noise then it's not the wood ruff key.

Will check tonight.

[anonymous-user]

Do you get the same noise if you do the same steering wheel input when the car is stationary? If it still makes the same noise, at least then you can rule out wheel rub or suspension problems. Only other areas left then would be rack or pump no?

[savroo]

Steering pump is new barely 500 miles but installed 4 years ago

I just checked on start up turning lock to lock I have very good assist and no rubbing, but did note I'm leaking (dripping) power steering fluid, further inspection it's from the pipe - pump to rack high pressure end. Checked the fluid and it is low but not empty. I reckon when going around a corner and gravity forcing the fluid to one side air is getting into the system and that's what I'm feeling and hearing.

For sure its not the woodruff key, which is a relief.

[savroo]

Steering pump is new barely 500 miles but installed 4 years ago

I just checked on start up turning lock to lock I have very good assist and no rubbing, but did note I'm leaking (dripping) power steering fluid, further inspection it's from the pipe - pump to rack high pressure end. Checked the fluid and it is low but not empty. I reckon when going around a corner and gravity forcing the fluid to one side air is getting into the system and that's what I'm feeling and hearing.

For sure its not the woodruff key, which is a relief.

[Jimm218]

From my experiences with PAS pumps what your describing does sound like a pump with air in it. As I recall the one on my Cerb started to make a noise when there was only a small amount below the min level.