Help! Major steering problem!

[ncc]

Hey all!

I have a '97 Eddie Bauer AWD with the SOHC V-6 engine.

I've done a search on this already, but I can't find anything that sounds quite like the problem I'm having:

When I try to turn my steering wheel any great amount, I get a hard resistance, then a moment of zero resistance, then more hard resistance, then no resistance and so on until the wheel has gone all the way to lock. It does this in both directions and is driving me nuts! It seems to be perfectly incremental around the diameter of the steering wheel.

I just replaced ALL the chassis and suspension components this weekend, for what it's worth. Control arms, ball joints, tie-rod ends, shocks, brakes, calipers and rotors.

Anyway, am I looking at the pump or the rack? Maybe something in the steering column itself??? I have the new rack already and was going to replace it this weekend, but honestly, for the amount of work that is necessary to get it out it just suddenly looked like it was in really good condition! lol

So I could really use some guidance here. Any and all help greatly appreciated!

As a sidenote: It's been doing this for several weeks now and I don't want to confuse the issue, but when I pressure-washed the undercarriage this weekend in preparation for all the mechanical work, the problem COMPLETELY disappeared! For a few hours, anyway; then it came back. So I thought I'd throw that in there.

Thanks!

Jeremy

 

[skoal_mint]

jack the front end up and turn the wheels by hand and check if theirs still a problem, if not then it may be you pump...

 

[ncc]

Thanks. Did that several times while the chassis work was being done; just to double-check the rough alignment and stuff. Didn't seem to have any hint of this problem during those procedures.

So what you're saying is it's possible that the pump is bad, but that that would only reveal itself under power while the engine is running?

Keep the help coming! Thanks!

Jeremy

 

[gr8scott]

Thanks. Did that several times while the chassis work was being done; just to double-check the rough alignment and stuff. Didn't seem to have any hint of this problem during those procedures.

So what you're saying is it's possible that the pump is bad, but that that would only reveal itself under power while the engine is running?

Keep the help coming! Thanks!

Jeremy

I'd dump a bottle of lucas power steering treatment in there before I started tearing stuff apart. See if it helps.

 

[exploded99]

Drain the ps pump reservoir. At the bottom is a small filter screen you can see with a flashlight. If there are pieces of metal/rubber it's usually the rack as long as you are not getting weird noises from the pump.

You might get lucky if you clean the screen and try fresh fluid, but chunks on the filter usually means lots of work!