Steering gone stiff?

[alinton]

Hi all, that's it - the steering has gone stiff, well stiffer than normal.

It doesn't feel like the PAS pump has failed, its not THAT stiff, I had that in the previous car, with the associated jerkiness, but I don't have that now.

Its just stiffer than it was, harder to turn the wheels and it doesn't self-centre very well.

There's no fluid leaking out of the gaiters, and the PAS fluid level is on the MIN mark. Although the fluid looks a little murky.

Ideas please?

Ta.

Andy.

[slideways]

steering uj's probably duff, mine did exactly the same on the chim
Rich

Edited by slideways on Friday 19th September 04:52

[alinton]

Two of us up in the wee hours! Is that the joint in the wheel arch?

A.

[slideways]

yes and the one on top of the rack

[< FORZA WEST]

either the lower or upper uj is the likely cause

[alinton]

And are they easy or hassle to change?

[morebeanz]

Try giving the whole joint a good clean before resorting to replacement. Because of it's location, it can get very clogged up, which makes the steering stiff...

[trackcar]

To be fair if it is a joint going stiff replacement is best route, theyre dirt cheap at about 40 quid a pop i think and easy to change.

[Ireland]

Andy,

I discovered another possible cause but it's not an easy one to solve as there's quiet a bit of ripping involved.

I had a leak on the top of my steering rack and last evening I finally got around to replacing the seals on top of the rack.

While I had the upper section off the rack I thoroughly cleaned it and while cleaning it I found a lot of crap had collected in the ball-race and it was quiet stiff to turn by hand.

Once I put the bits back together and drove the car I found it was a lot smoother and easier to turn.

If all else fails it may be worth your while taking this unit apart and cleaning it out.

But I wouldn't try it until everything else had failed.

[caduceus]

Did you get this sorted in the end? Would be interesting to hear the outcome.

[alinton]

Well I sprayed both UJs with WD40 and it improved considerably. Its still a little stiff though, so I'd say the UJs do need replacing.

Although I will investigate Ireland's suggestion above - JJ, where is this ball-race?

Cheers

Andy.

[Ireland]

alinton said:

..... where is this ball-race?

It's inside the upper end of the rack so it's a job that could be done while doing the UJ's but not really a job you'd strip it for.

Cleaning and re-greasing it made a big, and unexpected, difference on mine.

I need to change one of the UJ's on mine as well and I should have done that while I had the rack apart.