Heavy steering

[drmike]

The steering on my 90 will go heavy and also cease to self centre from time to time.

It usually starts off OK but after a while the steering will go heavy possibly getting better later on and then going heavy again.

Checked fluid level, bleeding gave clear fluid instantly, belt tightened which seemed to make it go a bit further before going heavy, ball joints feel free enough.

I'm about to check the knuckles in the steering column and the damper.

Any ideas? Could a pressure relief valve get stuck open?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[Litch]

I think your comment about tightening the belt is an indication of what may be wrong, if tightening the belt made it slightly better I would say that maybe the pump is on its way out (partially siezing?).
The steering column UJ's do give problems and people usually forget them or don't realise they are there in the first place. Spray them with WD40 and if that makes a difference then you need new ones. They are not difficult or expensive to replace, I fitted the later (expensive, non-rebuildable) lower column to mine yesterday (contains a rubber bush) and even though there is less access with the 300TDi than with some other engines the whole thing was done inside an hour.

[jimthelandyman]

What a coincidence mine currently has the same heavy steering problem.

[drmike]

So, have you fixed it already :) ?

I am checking the cheap stuff still. Was out all day yesterday so no progress but tracl rod ends will eb checeked again, I will bleed more thoroughly and also check teh damper as I have had bad experiences with them before.

A number of people have suggested the knuckles in teh steerging column so I suspect they'll come off one evening soon.

Let me know if you do make any progress.

Mike

[jimthelandyman]

I havn't checked owt yet, hopefully it aint anything big.

[drmike]

That's what I was hoping too but I'm not so optimistic now!

Have you seen the cost of new pumps for a 200 TDI and for a 300 TDI?

Mike

[drmike]

Well I got another pump from a mate but it has its input and output at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock which means the output fouls the pump casing. Or I rotate the pump by 180 and have the input pointing down which makes it vulnerable to snagging etc.

On the original pump the inpiut and output are both at the tope so it isn't a problem.

Am I being dim - I don't think so.

I think if I really believe it's the pump then I'm studffed.

The pump I took off has a little play in the shaft when you rotate it. You can feel it click as it takes up a little slack. The replacement pump does not.

Grr

Mike