stiff steering

hi ive got a discovery 2 2001 and ive just noticed the steering being stiff ive checked the obvious ie tyre pressure, leaking power steering fluid ) does the temperature have any effect on the fluid ? any help please. arv

Changing the fluid for new has a remarkable effect if the old fluid is ****ty and black

When was the last time you drove it?
Did the stiffness come on quickly, or has it worsened gradually?
Does the steering feel just as stiff, throughout full 360 deg turn of the wheel, or it is a bit more noticeable at certain points during wheel turn?

hi, i think its come on gradually and its a bit more noticeable when turning to the left, just been to scotland in her but prob lem started a fortnight ago thanks for your reply .off to chester this morning keeping my fingers crossed if all goes wrong it will be like driving an old transit .arv

Give the intermediate steering shaft joints (top & bottom) a good soak in release oil.
Griff

Is the reservoir still full of fluid?

There are two pipes that run from the reservoir and pump to the box, they run along the front chassis rail underneath the radiator and are prone to rust out from all the crud thrown up towards the front of the Disco.
They may have started to weep

thanks for the the help arv

I had a similar issue on my D2td5,turned out to be seized top and bottom ball joints,new ones fitted,back to normal.

Landmark2 said:

Give the intermediate steering shaft joints (top & bottom) a good soak in release oil.
Griff

Click to expand...

Bottom joint in my case. Soaked it in release oil from under wheel arch.

I have had very stiff steering on and off recently on my D2 and soaked the UJ in WD40 the last few evenings and its progressively got looser and looser and this morning actually felt back to normal