| Author | Message | ||
     Stephewn Robb Unregistered guest |
I have a loud whine coming from the steering when I try to steer, and leaking fluid and stiff steering (about 90% loss of power assist). I am looking for your admirable help as to what may be the culprit. Background: I rebuilt the power steering pump myself and everything had been working fine for a year. I am quite sure the pump is still working great. I have a strong suspicion the rack is bad...my hunch is that the steering control valve is clogged or plugged or restricted at least to some extent if not fully. I am pretty skilled mechanically but I am apprehensive to rebuild the power steering rack, because some people have told me that the rack is extraordinarily complicated and a DIY rebuild should not be attempted unless one specifically rebuilds racks as their career. And I'm also hesitating because I'm not sure it's the rack! I filled the pump to the proper level with clear Prestone Power Steering fluid and ran the engine as you'll see in my attached video. If you can watch the video in my link below you'll hear the actual sound it makes which may inform what the problem is. https://youtu.be/tta1-FzRts0 (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| Steve Emmott Prolific User Username: steve_e Post Number: 200 Registered: 11-2018 |
Stephewn, That definitely sounds like the rotary vanes in the steering pump to me. | ||
| Jeff Young Grand Master Username: jeyjey Post Number: 404 Registered: 10-2010 |
After making the sound, is the fluid foamy? If you have leaking hoses they can also draw in air, which foams the fluid and produces that sound. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Grand Master Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 385 Registered: 5-2016 |
I experienced a very similar sound a couple of years ago, it reminded me of the noise a strimmer makes. I noticed some foaming fluid in the pump reservoir and the level was a little low. I flushed and refilled the reservoir with the engine running, front wheels raised and gently turning the steering wheel from lock to lock (but not too far to either lock). The steering has been working fine since with no strange noises, maybe I was just lucky and it was simply an air in the fluid problem due to low fluid level. |
