Slight resistance in steering.

[Nickccc]

Chaps, a bit of advice please.
Went out for a spin today, whilst turning I felt slight resitance in the steering.
The whole lot feels very slightly heavier than before, there is a slight vagueness when turning in, it is as if understeer is building.
I checked the tyre pressures ok, checked the power steering fluid ok.
So what do you reckon, funnily enough it seemed to clear some what as I got home.
Can air get into the system? I guess you would need a split of some sort in the system to alow air in.
Who knows will give Mat at SP a ring if the rack is on its way out, then it will have to be sorted.
Though maybe the pump for the ps.
It isn't serious though anyloss of feel must be sorted.

Nick.

[GreenV8S]

Classic signs of a steering column UJ going stiff. When they get dirt and corrosion in them they tend to go stiff in certain positions and this makes the steering feel 'lumpy'.

[jbvipercerb]

Yes I agree I've changed the one under the wheel arch, steering went stiff but not lumpy strangely, that cured it completely

[marcus1970]

Does it centre on its own, or take a little bit of pursuasion to get back on the straight?

MB

[Nickccc]

No you have to turn it back, I havn't had a look yet.
Marcus, has this happened to you?

Edited by Nickccc on Monday 12th March 18:11

[marcus1970]

Nickccc said:

No you have to turn it back, I havn't had a look yet.
Marcus, has this happened to you?

Edited by Nickccc on Monday 12th March 18:11

Yes, it happened after I'd had some work done.

It was laid up for a week and was like steering through glue and wouldn't centre on its own; I had to fight the steering to turn corners etc. I continued to drive it and when the roads were empty gave it lots of right to left action (ie car swerving left to right) and it gradually freed itself up. If this doesn't do the trick then spray the joint as above with some type of lubricant.

MB

[morebeanz]

If you turn the wheels to full lock, you can get in behind the driver's side one and give the UL a good clean. I had the same, and the amount of rubbish glued to the joint was quite frightening.

Just give it a good scrub with a degreaser and shampoo, rinse thoroughly and then re-lube. you ought to feel an enormous difference - I did on mine.

I seem to recall some folks were talking about putting a boot on it to prevent this happening...

[Nickccc]

Thanks Chaps,

I had a look last night, not a lot of crap on the joint, It was only serviced a few monthes ago and I dont drive through the winter.
There wasn't any play in the connections.
What I did notice was the power steering fluid was only upto the first marker on the stick.
Which is I guess the lower of the two.
Will top up and clean the UJ.

Nick.