Heavy steering

[thegasman]

Hi

Bit of advice if anyone can help.Lately it feels is if my steering has got heavier on my 4.0 litre Chimaera with power steering.This all started a few weeks back whilst at Fernhurst test driving a Griffith which seemed to have very light steering.On the move all seems ok just extra heavy parking.I have checked fluid and all seems ok cant see any fluid leaks and recent service all seems ok.Something strange also at Fernhurst Drew the sales guy notice a streak of what seemed like fine oil along the top of my passenger wing not much but odd wiped it off nothing since.

Any acvice would be great

thanks

[Ordinary Bloke]

You haven't got my sister-in-law in the passenger seat, have you?

[Sound Chaser]

Could be the steering column universal joint. Its exposed to a lot of dirt so can begin to seize up. You would notice it as you're driving though. Obviously more so when parking.

[peter miller]

Check that the car still centralises itself when driving out of a bend, if it doesnt or is slow to return you may have a partially seized ball joint.
Better still, Jack up the front and see if you can easily turn the wheels from lock to lock. If this is all ok then the problem will probably be within the power assistance, that is assuming the tyre pressures are ok.

[adavy]

had the same problem. turned out to be universal joints and the power steering rack. does steering feel alrenately light then tight as you move through the lock. if so its tight ujs. try taping lightly with a rubber hammer

[SimonV8ster]

Ordinary Bloke said:

You haven't got my sister-in-law in the passenger seat, have you?

No, she was on the bonnet.

[thegasman]

Cheers guys gives me somewhere to start looking

many thanks

[Ordinary Bloke]

SimonV8ster said:

Ordinary Bloke said:

You haven't got my sister-in-law in the passenger seat, have you?

No, she was on the bonnet.

That's going to be one seriously dented bonnet...