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Massive Steering Problem - Help Needed

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    Massive Steering Problem - Help Needed

    Hey R3V,

    About a month and a half ago I changed my steering rack. The original was leaking from the boots and I was advised by a Euro auto shop that was indication the rack was gone. It was replaced with another e30 stock rack.

    Two weeks ago I started getting a vibration/grinding noise in the steering under hard left turns. I thought it was the control arm. If you drove sensibly, there wasn't any concern. Weather has been shit and I've had final exams, so last week when I finally finished with my rear subframe bushings, I got the car out and as if overnight this creeking / clunking was right there.

    As it turns out, the control arm is perfectly fine. It's the power-steering pump. Under heavy forces it jumps all around violently. If you turn it slowly to full lock (left) it sometimes sounds like bubbling, which makes me think air got into the system (I flushed both the lines and the rack prior to install).

    What confuses me is that the fluid level is very full. In fact, it almost seemed to increase - that's probably because the liquid is milky in colour suggesting water got into the system. Even more strangely though is that there appears to be a leak near the PS bottle, which again would suggest decreasing levels.

    I'm at a total loss what to do. Do I 'bleed' the system? If so, how? I have to get the car safetied and now this happens.... UGH.


    many, many thanks for any help.

    - Colin

    #2
    There should be no way for the power steering pump (or it's pulley) to jump around. Worn bearings in the pump could cause the pulley to move around, but for the pump to move there has to be some problem with it's mount.
    The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
    Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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      #3
      Loose steering pump fastenings? Check that…I guess it could happen with recently changed rack.
      Also remove the belt and see if the noise disappears, if so, the pump is the problem.

      Unrelated, but sometimes the disk break splash guards may bend causing all sort of scary noises....Lift up the wheel and turn it by hand, see what happens.

      Comment


        #4
        The power steering pulley is solid. The pump itself seems to move around a bit though. I've checked all the bolts and they appear tight. Come short of removing it and inspecting otherwise, I'm not sure.

        What seems to be happening is the pump 'kicking' of sorts. Under pressure in LEFT turns ONLY, it creates a terrible noise that sounds like a ball-joint is out / rubbing / grinding. It's the pump for sure though, not a splash guard. It's visible with the hood up and turning the wheel on flat ground, and scary when actually driving the vehicle. I'm guessing air in the system, but I don't know how to get rid of it.

        If however it were just the pump, I would expect the same to occur during hard RIGHT turns. It doesn't, which leads me to believe it's rack or line related.

        Comment


          #5
          Grinding? Hmmm...Wonder if the pump is eating it's self alive.
          Originally posted by Matt-B
          hey does anyone know anyone who gets upset and makes electronics?

          Comment


            #6
            If the pulley feels solid, the problem is in the mounting of the pump. That could be loose fasteners or a broken mount. You will probably have to dismount the pump to find/fix the problem.
            The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
            Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

            Comment


              #7
              You can always remove the poswer steering belt and see if the issue persists. If it becomes normal without belt, then you have issue with the pump.

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