Steering problems

[petergalileo]

Hi,
  I have a 1990 V8 disco and the power steering started getting stiff.  I replaced the power steering pump and it now is fine until you have driven for about 20 miles.  After this the steering gets heavy again, if you nudge the steering wheel the power assistance returns breifly.

I replaced the pump with one from ebay so it is possible this is faulty.

Any help would be appreciated.

Best Regards
Peter

[Budgie]

The only things that spring to mind are the tension on the belt to the PAS pump, duff steering damper or air in the system.

I take it you must have bled the PAS system when the pump was replaced, maybe try bleeding it again incase the usage has found more air lodged somewhere. Was the fluid okay or was it cloudy and did you replace all the fluid or just top it up after the pump change?

If the steering damper is past it's best or bee bent then it may cause the problem. This one is easy, just disconnect it and see what the steering is like. :)

If the steering was notchy (tight,slack,tight,slack as you turned the wheel) then I would say to look at the U/J's on the steering arm from the steering column to the steering box as these do get dry and start to seeze. Just a good dose of oil normally sorts this out.  

let us know how you get on.  :D

[Range Rover Blues]

I'd say the belt is slipping too, they are a b*****d to get tight enough so I'd start with a new one and clean up the pulleys.  If they slip completely you may notice the rev counter dropping as this runs from the alternator, in turn running from the PAS pulley, but if you are struggling to get round a corner it's not the most obvious thing to be watching is it :oops:

[petergalileo]

I dont reckon its the belt but I will check it.  The steering damper has a chunk out of its casing, it doesn't leak but I think I will remove it and see if that makes a difference.  I will also bleed it out, it can't hurt it.

Thanks for the advice guys, will let you know how I get on.

Peter

[petergalileo]

Finally sorted this, a bit extreme but replaced pump, belts, all ball joints, got tracking checked and changed steering box too.

Cost 4 days worth of work and £100 but no more steering problems !  :lol:

[Tyke]

Thats cool mate, glad it's sorted . . . . but did you eventually idenify the problem component/s . . . . ?

Would be nice to find out and then we can all learn from it  

[petergalileo]

Well I did it in 2 stages, I changed the pump first, seemed to make no difference.  I then decided to change the box as it was leaking from the bottom quite badly.  

In the process The drop arm balljoint was totally empty of grease apparently washed out by power steering fluid.  I also replaced the 2 track rod arm balljoints as they were worn out.  Seeing as theres only one other ball joint I changed that as well.

As for the diagnosis, I honestly think it was the steering box that caused the problems.  I think the seals must have been going and as the oil got hot after an hours driving the oil flowed past the seals and I lost power assistance.

[Tyke]

as the oil got hot after an hours driving the oil flowed past the seals and I lost power assistance.

That sounds feasible mate - wouldn't have expected to have to do the ball joints as well as a result of the steering box leaking but there you go . . . we learn all the time