Power Steering problem, VERY frustrated!!!

[Jon91TSi]

Hey all,

I was out the other night messing around in the snow when my power steering pump blew, resulting in power steering fluid all over the place and my pump whining like crazy.. OK, so the pump blew, put another on! WRONG!.. I took the old one off and put another on.. Bled the system and went for a drive.. Now my power steering works fine mind you, but it seems somewhat lumpy and notchy, not fluid like it did before, I tried 3 other pumps and it makes no difference.. I have thoroughly bled the system, and added new fluid, but yet it acts as if there are tiny air bubbles in the system.. My steering worked perfect before this and now it feels very odd driving it.. There are no leaks anywhere, but why would it be doing this? Am I missing something here? Please help me, im lost!!

Jon

 

[realhp=turbo]

The only thing I can say is that you just need to give it more time. It takes time to get ALL the air bubbles out of the fluid. Its gonna feel weird for a while. Its probably gonna make some weird noises for a while. All you can do is work it back and forth and give it like a week. If it doesnt clear up, then worry. Ive installed power steering units on Land Cruisers before, and they always have that weird feeling and noise when you first put them in.
mike

 

[Jon91TSi]

It is silent and makes no noises at speed, high rpm's or idle. When at idle, however, the steering feels notchy if you turn the wheel very slowly, if you turn it fast it feels fine, but while on the highway or even doing 40 when you turn the wheel a little you feel the notchy, lumpyness because you are turning the wheel so slow.. It is just a very odd feeling, and im wondering what it is.. I will give it time and see, any other opinions?

Thanks!

 

[KlaSoliz]

Hey, I didnt look before I posted reply but if you have an AWD model, check the CV boots or whatever, if you can pull one of them to where you can see oil or fluid at all, then you got a problem, might of snagged it on somethin. Doesnt ever hurt to check everything.

 

[Defiant]

Bleed the system. Turn it against the stop, hold for fifteen seconds, turn the other way, repeat.

I don't know what the thing about the boots was about, but it's unrelated.

 

[realhp=turbo]

Bleed the system. Turn it against the stop, hold for fifteen seconds, turn the other way, repeat.

I don't know what the thing about the boots was about, but it's unrelated.

Thank you Defiant!
Listen to him he's on it.

 

[Jon91TSi]

Hey, I didnt look before I posted reply but if you have an AWD model, check the CV boots or whatever, if you can pull one of them to where you can see oil or fluid at all, then you got a problem, might of snagged it on somethin. Doesnt ever hurt to check everything.

They are brand new.. This problem only started when the pump went and I put another on.. I see where you are coming from though...

 

[Jon91TSi]

Bleed the system. Turn it against the stop, hold for fifteen seconds, turn the other way, repeat.

I don't know what the thing about the boots was about, but it's unrelated.

Thanks.. Ill try that today and see how it goes.. I was turning stop to stop but not holding... I did that and added fluid.. Ill try holding it though.. Thanks!

 

[Jon91TSi]

Defiant..

I did what you said and the steering still feels the same.. Im lost at this point.. Anyone else? :thumbdown

 

[realhp=turbo]

I have a feeling that youve got air in the spool valve. Its just gonna take a few days to get the air out.
mike

 

[Jon91TSi]

OK.. I talked to my dads friend who is a mechanic and he said that since I have tried 3 pumps with all the same result, he seems to think my rack is shot.. My car does have 165k on it, so it should be worn, but it worked fine before my pump blew.. It does not leak to my knowledge.. If it was air in the spool valve, why after trying 3 pumps would it still be doing this.. the power steering works fine.. its just, well, lumpy..

Jon

 

[Defiant]

Hey all,

I was out the other night messing around in the snow when my power steering pump blew,

So, when this pump blew, was it from hitting something?

 

[Jon91TSi]

No, I didnt hit anything.. I think it was a combination of it being 0 degrees and 5000 rpm's with the wheel turned making all that pressure on a pump that has over 160k on it.. I think it was something that happened because of old age.. I didnt hit anything though..

Im starting to think that because ive been through 3 pumps now with the same results that something is wrong with my rack.. Nobody would happen to have a 91 AWD rack laying around would they?

Jon

 

[realhp=turbo]

Yes youve gone through three pumps but how did you bleed the system? I still think that you just have too much air in the system somewhere. If you think about it what is in the rack that could make that happen? Worn seals on the ram? It doesnt add up. Maybe it is just that the rack is old, but...
mike

 

[oldman]

I went throught 4 pumps before I got a good one. If the 4th one didn't work, I was going to get a rebuit kit and rebuild one of the 4. Maybe you're as unlucky as I was.

 

[Jon91TSi]

I tried going lock to lock, lock to lock and holding it for a few seconds at each lock, every way I know.. Ill just keep driving it and see if maybe, just maybe it will go away... There is no question the pumps are working, the steering just feels lumpy..

 

[blkbrd1988]

Ive had and still have the same problem, it just started when it was cold out and only does it at slow speeds (under 5 mph) I thought it was either air in the line or the wrong fluid since its cold out but I havent had time to mess with it. please PM me if you find out whats wrong with yours.

 

[Jon91TSi]

Ive had and still have the same problem, it just started when it was cold out and only does it at slow speeds (under 5 mph) I thought it was either air in the line or the wrong fluid since its cold out but I havent had time to mess with it. please PM me if you find out whats wrong with yours.

I certainly will... Mine does it at any speed, or sitting at idle at a light or anywhere.. I'll let you know though..

Jon