Power steering woes
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Pa
Power steering woes
I know this gets asked alot in various ways, so I will make it (Semi) short and sweet.
I had a leak and the dealership replaced the rack about a year ago. Recently in the last 3 months, I have regained a small leak in the rack, where the Pump line goes into the rack. If you put sideways pressure on it , occasionally a small droplet will appear.
2 days ago I had to get to a remote area and slid in the mud, thats it. I climbed out fine , but could smell ATF +4 for a brief second, but since I was in the mud.....
Fast forward a day and I have no power steering. I checked the reservoir and it was near empty, so I filled and the level is fine, but I have no steering assistance from the rack as it is near impossible to turn while not moving. The rack isnt getting any fluid, other than moving the wheel chock to chock is there any other way to bleed it. I am going to remove the clamps and replace with worm gears. I will let the fluid drain out and see if it helps.
I can see the fluid in the reservoir churning from the pump, but I definitely do not have any power steering. Every turn of the wheel and it whines.
I do not want to destroy the rack if that isnt the problem. If it is the pump, how do I test? Also when looking at replacements, they state with ZF or without ZF pump. What does this mean? I am assuming it is a higher efficiency pump???
Thanks guys
I had a leak and the dealership replaced the rack about a year ago. Recently in the last 3 months, I have regained a small leak in the rack, where the Pump line goes into the rack. If you put sideways pressure on it , occasionally a small droplet will appear.
2 days ago I had to get to a remote area and slid in the mud, thats it. I climbed out fine , but could smell ATF +4 for a brief second, but since I was in the mud.....
Fast forward a day and I have no power steering. I checked the reservoir and it was near empty, so I filled and the level is fine, but I have no steering assistance from the rack as it is near impossible to turn while not moving. The rack isnt getting any fluid, other than moving the wheel chock to chock is there any other way to bleed it. I am going to remove the clamps and replace with worm gears. I will let the fluid drain out and see if it helps.
I can see the fluid in the reservoir churning from the pump, but I definitely do not have any power steering. Every turn of the wheel and it whines.
I do not want to destroy the rack if that isnt the problem. If it is the pump, how do I test? Also when looking at replacements, they state with ZF or without ZF pump. What does this mean? I am assuming it is a higher efficiency pump???
Thanks guys
Last edited by slakker25rs; Mar 26, 2012 at 01:38 PM.
Thread Starter
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Professional
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Pa
I just jacked up the front of the vehicle and moved the wheel end to end with no difference.
Nothing seems to be binding or locking. The wheel turns easy with the wheels in the air.
I also pulled the cooler to reservoir low pressure return to see if fluid was flowing past the rack, but honestly it is hard to determine. Swimming in ATF fluid sucks.
Nothing seems to be binding or locking. The wheel turns easy with the wheels in the air.
I also pulled the cooler to reservoir low pressure return to see if fluid was flowing past the rack, but honestly it is hard to determine. Swimming in ATF fluid sucks.
Unfortunately I think you need static pressure and flow gauges to test the ps pump. If it was low and you added more, there could be air in the lines. When a properly working ps pump engages the rpm should drop a little so you can try chalk to chalk to engage it and see if your idle drops. It really should be brought to a shop unless you have gauges though.