Freelander 1 Noisy power steering

[Robfr]

I have a 2002 Td4 . Now it has acquired a hissing, rasping noise when the steering wheel is on full lock, more so to the right than the left. I have put the front of the car up on axle stands and put it on full lock with the engine running. The hydraulic hose from the steering box to the pump expands and the fluid in the reservoir gurgles violently. Any ideas?
Rob

 

[Skinny Mike]

How old is the fluid?
Mike

 

[Madmustang]

Is there any fluid leaking out?

 

[Robfr]

How old is the fluid?
Mike

How old is the fluid?
Mike

Is there any fluid leaking out?

Is there any fluid leaking out?

No leaks

 

[Robfr]

The fluid is original.

 

[Skinny Mike]

Well the fluid needs replacing then. That always makes the pump noisy.
Get a big syringe and suck fluid out to 1cm from the base of the reservoir, then put new in. Turn the wheel lock to lock a couple of times and repeat the fluid change 5 or 6 times.
Do this first, see if it solves the issue. If not you may need to look at the hoses etc.
Mike

 

[Nodge68]

Change the fluid as Skinny Mike said. The noise is going to be air that is being drawn in. The fluid contains an anti-foam additive that's likely degraded over the last 16 years. PS fluid should really be changed at 60K miles or 6 years intervals, so if it's original, it's well over due a change.

There will always be some noise if the steering is held against the lock, as the pump's pressure regulator valve is opening. Any air in the system described above makes the noise sound far worse.

 

[Robfr]

No leaks

Silly question! Should the level of the power steering fluid rise and fall from lock to lock?

 

[Skinny Mike]

Not by a noticeable amount. There will be a slight variation as the fluid pumps around the system, but it shouldn't rise and fall. This would indicate a failing pipe or pump.
Mike

 

[Robfr]

Thanks for your response. There are certainly no leaks in the pipe work, so I guess I will start with a pump replacement as the steering has become really heavy. Incidentally I have replaced the power steering fluid. I saw a video on YouTube showing that the fluid container filter can become faulty, thus breaking up and causing similar problems. Have you any experience of that? Rob

 

[Madmustang]

Does it make a screaching sound when you turn the wheel?

 

[Robfr]

At the beginning when it first became heavy, yes it did make that sort of noise. However, not now.

 

[Madmustang]

There could still be air trapped in the system I would do a purge first before buying a new pump