Power Steering: Cutting in and out at specific angles

[Mr Dubya]

Before I dedicate a whole day after work to researching and diagnosing anything, I wanted to see if the boys here could shed some light.

FYI: My power steering fluid is at the proper level, and I don't ever turn it full lock for more than 2 seconds (if at all, and rarely).

Problem: My power steering seems to cut in and out at specific points in the wheel's path of turning. By this I mean that the wheels (not specifically the steering wheel itself) turn with easy around 12 o'clock, get tough around 11 and 1, easy again at 10 and 2, etc. These spots remain constant - they don't seem to shift around. I'm obviously exaggerating the degree of angle in that example - but you get what I mean.


Anyone have some thoughts off-hand? I'm sure the worst I'll face is a new power steering pump, which I'm not too intimidated by if need be. Curious to see if anyone knows where I might begin looking to save some time.



-Dubya

 

[tenny]

Before I dedicate a whole day after work to researching and diagnosing anything, I wanted to see if the boys here could shed some light.

FYI: My power steering fluid is at the proper level, and I don't ever turn it full lock for more than 2 seconds (if at all, and rarely).

Problem: My power steering seems to cut in and out at specific points in the wheel's path of turning. By this I mean that the wheels (not specifically the steering wheel itself) turn with easy around 12 o'clock, get tough around 11 and 1, easy again at 10 and 2, etc. These spots remain constant - they don't seem to shift around. I'm obviously exaggerating the degree of angle in that example - but you get what I mean.


Anyone have some thoughts off-hand? I'm sure the worst I'll face is a new power steering pump, which I'm not too intimidated by if need be. Curious to see if anyone knows where I might begin looking to save some time.



-Dubya

it doesnt sound like a pressure problem, it sounds mechcanial...

i would check the steering knuckle itself, it sounds like you may have
a ujoint going bad in the knuckle, the only real way to check it, is
to pull the whole thing out, and feel both u joints (i believe there are two)
in the 3rd gens

 

[RicketyExplorer]

I have the same issue I had my p/s fluid flushed and it's still there. I could suggest some Lucas p/s additive as a temp fix, but I would say that it's probably the rack.

 

[Mr Dubya]

I'll be taking a look at those knuckles after work, and update on what I see. Thanks

 

[Mr Dubya]

I looked at the suspension and chassis and saw nothing to hinder steering. I however started to hear the steering pump start to whine between full lock on either side, more so when I hit those 'tough spots' in the wheel's rotation.

I'm more confident that this is in fact an issue with the pump. Any thoughts or alternatives? I'm an expert by no means of course so my diagnosis may not be perfect.

 

[fusseli]

I dont think it's your pump, the PS pump doesn't know what position the wheels are in, all it does is pressurize and pump fluid. It groans when under load, which is any time you are turning the wheel, this is normal.

 

[Mr Dubya]

I dont think it's your pump, the PS pump doesn't know what position the wheels are in, all it does is pressurize and pump fluid. It groans when under load, which is any time you are turning the wheel, this is normal.

Agreed. Any thoughts as to why I might have intermittent tough spots in the rotation?

 

[swshawaii]

Sounds like a steering rack to me. Any fluid leaks?

 

[tenny]

did you ACTUALLY remove the shaft to PHYSICALLY feel(check) the u-joints..???

thats really the only way to check a steeringshaft u-joint.....

before you condemn ANY part of the hydraulics, you must first, pull this shaft
and check those joints.....

 

[Mr Dubya]

did you ACTUALLY remove the shaft to PHYSICALLY feel(check) the u-joints..???

thats really the only way to check a steeringshaft u-joint.....

before you condemn ANY part of the hydraulics, you must first, pull this shaft
and check those joints.....

I'll be pulling and looking closely at that next then. When you mentioned the U-joints you said something about the knuckle so I thought to check the wheel knuckle/spindle. The shaft makes sense. Like I said - still learning. Thanks for chiming in.


I may or may not get to pulling it tomorrow, but will this week. I'll undoubtedly post here again with my findings.


-Dubya