200 Tdi Steering Problems

This relates to a 3 door, 1993 diesel discovery 200Tdi

In the last few days the steering has become very stiff and won't
naturally centre. This leads to difficulties cornering and a tendency
to over correct.

There are no obvious leaks in the system and the drive belt is tight.

Any suggestions where to look first? Power steering pump, power
steering box, steering column? How do I tell if the fault is power
steering pump or steering box?

Cheers

Peter

On or around Wed, 23 Mar 2005 00:42:12 GMT, Peter Sheppard
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>This relates to a 3 door, 1993 diesel discovery 200Tdi
>
>In the last few days the steering has become very stiff and won't
>naturally centre. This leads to difficulties cornering and a tendency
>to over correct.
>
>There are no obvious leaks in the system and the drive belt is tight.

I assume you've checked there is actually oil in it?

>Any suggestions where to look first? Power steering pump, power
>steering box, steering column? How do I tell if the fault is power
>steering pump or steering box?

Try jacking the front wheels off the ground (axle on stands, say) and see if
it turns easily like that. If it's stiff, you've got something mechanical
making it stiff. if it turns readily with no load on it then there's a
hydraulic problem.

not guaranteed, but most likely. A buggered swivel bearing might make for
stiff steering, though it ought to be obvious in other ways.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
In Touch: Get in touch with yourself by touching yourself.
If somebody is watching, stop touching yourself.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.

Austin Shackles wrote:
>
> I assume you've checked there is actually oil in it?
>
Yes, there is oil! That was the first thing I checked. I have also
looked for obvious leaks, and there is no sign of them either.

It had a full service yesterday and the garage made no mention of
anything!

Stationary it seems OK (with the wheels on the ground), it's just on
the move it can get very stiff.

Cheers

Peter

Mine did a similar thing, I sprayed loads of contact duckoil on the two
steering joints and it fixed it instantly.. seems simple but worth a try.

Jason Hall.