Play in Ka steering

[Fruitcake]

Can someone help?

I have an '01 Ka with power and it has developed a bit of play in the steering - no more than 1/2" - 3/4" at the top but it's driving me nuts as it wasn't there a week ago.

Has anyone suffered this before?

[mafioso]

Is the power steering fluid level ok?

[Fruitcake]

mafioso said:

Is the power steering fluid level ok?

Yup. All the levels get checked at least once a week.

[DJ_AS]

I've read that Ka's can suffer from failure of the steering rack. I don't know what the symptoms are but that may be an avenue worth checking.

[Fruitcake]

DJ_AS said:

I've read that Ka's can suffer from failure of the steering rack. I don't know what the symptoms are but that may be an avenue worth checking.

Bugger.

[DJ_AS]

Fruitcake said:

DJ_AS said:

I've read that Ka's can suffer from failure of the steering rack. I don't know what the symptoms are but that may be an avenue worth checking.

Bugger.

Don't assume the worst yet! Pint is half full and all that...

[Zad]

On some Fords (dunno about the Ka, I haven't looked) there is a rubber bush and bearing where it goes through the bulkhead. Sometimes these pop out and the steering wheel goes *rockrockrock* about 1/2" or so. As a temporary fix just pop it back in. New kits from Ford aren't more than £3-4 I think.

Worth a look anyway.

Mike

[Fruitcake]

DJ_AS said:

Fruitcake said:

DJ_AS said:

I've read that Ka's can suffer from failure of the steering rack. I don't know what the symptoms are but that may be an avenue worth checking.

Bugger.

Don't assume the worst yet! Pint is half full and all that...

I must remeber that. On the plus side it isn't getting any worse and it still handles well.

[Fruitcake]

Zad said:

On some Fords (dunno about the Ka, I haven't looked) there is a rubber bush and bearing where it goes through the bulkhead. Sometimes these pop out and the steering wheel goes *rockrockrock* about 1/2" or so. As a temporary fix just pop it back in. New kits from Ford aren't more than £3-4 I think.

Worth a look anyway.

Mike

Will do, cheers Mike!

[flippa]

DJ_AS said:

Fruitcake said:

DJ_AS said:

I've read that Ka's can suffer from failure of the steering rack. I don't know what the symptoms are but that may be an avenue worth checking.

Bugger.

Don't assume the worst yet! Pint is half full and all that...

Steering rack went on my Ka couple of years back. In the lead up to it though my power steering fluid kept going down and the car would whine whenever the wheel was turned any where near full lock. If it is that be aware of where you take it. I had one garage quote £900 which was ridiculous and then when a garage did repair it they managed to put one of the pipes next to the exhaust so about a month later the heat melted through the pipe, all the steering fuid poured all over the engine (lots of blue/green smoke!!) and the steering died!!

[Fruitcake]

flippa said:

DJ_AS said:

Fruitcake said:

DJ_AS said:

I've read that Ka's can suffer from failure of the steering rack. I don't know what the symptoms are but that may be an avenue worth checking.

Bugger.

Don't assume the worst yet! Pint is half full and all that...

Steering rack went on my Ka couple of years back. In the lead up to it though my power steering fluid kept going down and the car would whine whenever the wheel was turned any where near full lock. If it is that be aware of where you take it. I had one garage quote £900 which was ridiculous and then when a garage did repair it they managed to put one of the pipes next to the exhaust so about a month later the heat melted through the pipe, all the steering fuid poured all over the engine (lots of blue/green smoke!!) and the steering died!!

The level on mine isn't moving at all, just a bit of play, no other symptoms.