Steering Woes

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:09 pm

This morning when i first pulled off the drive the steering had no power assistance. It was solid.

I drove 100 yards then turned right, still really heavy to a point where i could hardly turn it.

I pulled the steering wheel sharp left then sharp right a couple of times and all of a sudden it went back to normal.

What the hell caused that?

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:22 pm

My guess is a worn out hp pump

, or loose hp pump belt.

Cold weather makes this worse.

Mike

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:26 pm

Sticky FDV possibly? May have been jammed over in the "brakes and suspension" position rather than the "steering" position.

alab · Post by **alab** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:44 pm

Sounds exactly like my XM, and I know I need a new HP pump.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:54 pm

I didn't think they were that heavy without PAS. Mine didn't work properly until I changed the pump and was no real problem. I mention this as if the steering was that stiff it would suggest a rack valving problem - and you were fighting the mechanism - or in fact moving a piston in a nearly sealed ram full of LHM!

Was this just heavy steering or did it feel that something was jamming it?

jeremy

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:23 pm

I've never heard of a pump just dying that quickly and then just as quickly getting resurrected again.
I'd firstly look at the belt and if a new belt didn't sort it, look at the piniuon seals. PProbably easy enough to check them; just look to see if they are leaking directly below the hardydisc.

Alan S

Mr B · Post by **Mr B** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:57 pm

Is is because the LHM thickens up in colder weather?

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:14 pm

Strangely enough, tonight I found a brand new 16v LHM pump in a cupboard. It's supposed to be going back to Lockwoods as it was delivered in error, but they've not been for it yet.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:18 pm

Try steering a pas bx when it dont go and trust me its heavy! (ok ok I left the radio on)

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:21 pm

the freezing point of LHm is stupidly low so i suspect its mor ethe mechanism getting stiff than the LHM thickening. From the TOTAL specs sheet, LHM is a brilliant almost perfect substance, high boiling point, low frezzing point and quite a wide opperating temp!

I love LHM!

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:24 am

The scrapper 4x4 has a new pump on it so i'll swap it over and see what happens.