Intermittent Power Steering Strangeness 1990 90

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M

Mark Solesbury

Guest
Hello

My 1990 90 has a strange problem....

The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt
slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the front up,
and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is no play that i
can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in the reservoir, and its
not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a track rod ends - Will have
them off at the weekend to double check - Richard if you read this price
please?

I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems ok.

What else could it be??

Mark
9090


 
....and Mark Solesbury spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> Hello
>
> My 1990 90 has a strange problem....
>
> The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt
> slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the
> front up, and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is
> no play that i can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in
> the reservoir, and its not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a
> track rod ends - Will have them off at the weekend to double check -
> Richard if you read this price please?
>
> I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems
> ok.
>
> What else could it be??
>
> Mark
> 9090

What is "intermittently stiff"?

If it's stiff at the same point every time you turn (say) right, then that
would point to stiff UJs in the column, dry/worn/damaged ball joints or
TREs, or even damaged components binding somewhere.

If it's just stiff every now and then regardless of steering wheel position,
then IME that points to the pump. Either it's not getting a consistent
drive from the belt, or it's working intermittently itself.

Stiff column UJs are common on older vehicles, and can often be cured
(temporarily) by a generous application of WD40 in the obvious places. Try
that first - it can't do any harm, and it's cheap.

--
Rich
==============================

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.


 
> Hello
>
> My 1990 90 has a strange problem....
>
> The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt
> slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the front
up,
> and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is no play that i
> can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in the reservoir, and
its
> not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a track rod ends - Will have
> them off at the weekend to double check - Richard if you read this price
> please?
>
> I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems ok.
>
> What else could it be??
>

Forgot to mention, that when its up in the air, its not stiff, so i suppose
this eliminated the steering linkage...

Mark
9090


 
....and Mark Solesbury spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...

> Forgot to mention, that when its up in the air, its not stiff

<cough>

--
Rich
==============================

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.


 
mark its the steering pump itself , it may fail shortly completely .

mine did same thing , the steering got very stiff every now and again
but all pipes etc were ok .
i bought a new steering pump and fitted it , all was ok and ever since
..


Mark Solesbury wrote:
> Hello
>
> My 1990 90 has a strange problem....
>
> The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt
> slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the front up,
> and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is no play that i
> can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in the reservoir, and its
> not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a track rod ends - Will have
> them off at the weekend to double check - Richard if you read this price
> please?
>
> I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems ok.
>
> What else could it be??
>
> Mark
> 9090

 
>
> > Forgot to mention, that when its up in the air, its not stiff


Just read that back,.....

DOH!

Mark
909


 

> mine did same thing , the steering got very stiff every now and again
> but all pipes etc were ok .
> i bought a new steering pump and fitted it , all was ok and ever since
>

How much was a new pump? Can they be recon'd? Was it a bastard to fit?


 
On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:13:59 -0000, "Mark Solesbury"
<[email protected]> scribbled the following nonsense:

>Hello
>
>My 1990 90 has a strange problem....
>
>The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt
>slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the front up,
>and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is no play that i
>can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in the reservoir, and its
>not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a track rod ends - Will have
>them off at the weekend to double check - Richard if you read this price
>please?
>
>I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems ok.
>
>What else could it be??
>
>Mark
>9090
>

had this on my hybrid. Happened when moving slowly and using full
lock, or close to full lock. Turned out that the key on the pulley
was nackered. BAsiclally was allowing the pulley to spin on the
shaft, reduxing the effectiveness of the PAS system. Was going to cut
a new key, but then found the keyway was also worn. Ended up tig
welding the pully onto the shaft and the problem went away.
--

Simon Isaacs

Peterborough 4x4 Club Newsletter Editor and Webmaster
Green Lane Association (GLASS) Financial Director
101 Ambi, undergoing camper conversion www.simoni.co.uk
1976 S3 LWT, Fully restored, ready for sale! Make me an offer!
Suzuki SJ410 (Wife's) 3" lift kit fitted, body shell now restored and mounted on chassis, waiting on a windscreen and MOT
Series 3 88" Rolling chassis...what to do next
1993 200 TDi Discovery
1994 200 TDi Discovery body sheel, being bobbed and modded.....
 
I had exactly the same trouble with my 91 RR, it seems that aftera good
engine de-gunk, there wasn't any sort of lubricant on the steering uv joints
x2 that sit in the engine bay between the steering box and bulkhead. I oiled
the 2 uv joints with engine oil 3 years ago and haven't had any trouble
since!!


"Simon Isaacs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:13:59 -0000, "Mark Solesbury"
> <[email protected]> scribbled the following nonsense:
>
>>Hello
>>
>>My 1990 90 has a strange problem....
>>
>>The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt
>>slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the front
>>up,
>>and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is no play that i
>>can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in the reservoir, and
>>its
>>not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a track rod ends - Will have
>>them off at the weekend to double check - Richard if you read this price
>>please?
>>
>>I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems ok.
>>
>>What else could it be??
>>
>>Mark
>>9090
>>
>
> had this on my hybrid. Happened when moving slowly and using full
> lock, or close to full lock. Turned out that the key on the pulley
> was nackered. BAsiclally was allowing the pulley to spin on the
> shaft, reduxing the effectiveness of the PAS system. Was going to cut
> a new key, but then found the keyway was also worn. Ended up tig
> welding the pully onto the shaft and the problem went away.
> --
>
> Simon Isaacs
>
> Peterborough 4x4 Club Newsletter Editor and Webmaster
> Green Lane Association (GLASS) Financial Director
> 101 Ambi, undergoing camper conversion www.simoni.co.uk
> 1976 S3 LWT, Fully restored, ready for sale! Make me an offer!
> Suzuki SJ410 (Wife's) 3" lift kit fitted, body shell now restored and
> mounted on chassis, waiting on a windscreen and MOT
> Series 3 88" Rolling chassis...what to do next
> 1993 200 TDi Discovery
> 1994 200 TDi Discovery body sheel, being bobbed and modded.....


 
Morning

After a coating/drowning of WD40 on the steering linkage between the
bulkhead and the box all seems to be well.

Only went for a small drive this morning as it was -5 outside and the window
froze on the inside mid journy, therefore i decided to go to work in the
Golf with climatronix.

Hopefully thats all it was!

Mark
9090



>
> My 1990 90 has a strange problem....
>
> The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt
> slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the front
up,
> and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is no play that i
> can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in the reservoir, and
its
> not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a track rod ends - Will have
> them off at the weekend to double check - Richard if you read this price
> please?
>
> I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems ok.
>
> What else could it be??
>
> Mark
> 9090
>
>


 
Mark Solesbury wrote:
> Morning
>
> After a coating/drowning of WD40 on the steering linkage between the
> bulkhead and the box all seems to be well.

Follow it up with some heavier oil to reduce the frequency of having to
repeat the operation.
 
On or around Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:13:59 -0000, "Mark Solesbury"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Hello
>
>My 1990 90 has a strange problem....
>
>The steering gets intermittently stiff. I don't think its the belt
>slipping - Cant hear anything, and it seems tight. Ive jacked the front up,
>and been under when its turned from lock to lock. There is no play that i
>can see on any of the ball joints. There is fluid in the reservoir, and its
>not leaking. I was thinking that it could be a track rod ends - Will have
>them off at the weekend to double check - Richard if you read this price
>please?
>
>I've checked the steering linkage to the steering box, and it seems ok.

fluid level?

I'd have a serious look at the belt, too, and the pulleys.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"It is a characteristic of the human mind to hate the man one has injured"
Tacitus (c.55 - c.117) Agricola, 45
 
On or around Mon, 23 Jan 2006 21:00:44 -0000, "Mark Solesbury"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>
>> mine did same thing , the steering got very stiff every now and again
>> but all pipes etc were ok .
>> i bought a new steering pump and fitted it , all was ok and ever since
>>
>
>How much was a new pump? Can they be recon'd? Was it a bastard to fit?
>

pricey ('bout 160+ notes, ISTR), yes but easier to exchange, and yes.


not that I've done one... but I did look into it sometime with a leaky one.
Also I recall having one swapped on one of the minibuses, and it took the
garage about half the day and an unfeasibly big hammer to move it.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then
something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination -
we learned to talk." Pink Floyd (1994)
 
Just had exactly that problem with mine mate i then bought a power steering box and pump, I installed the pump first of to relise there was nothing wrong with the box... steering is now better than ever!!! I sugest new pump!
 
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