LN130 Power Steering Probs.....

[tintin]

Can anyone throw some light on this?
My beloved "Tess" (two ton tess from tokyo) has developed a PS problem. First noticed about a week ago, when crawling in /out of parking spaces in tesco's etc.
When turning the steering wheel to full right hand down lock she will sometimes get about 70 / 80% of the turn then suddenly become very stiff (feels as if the PS has stopped working) then a second later will clunk then resume normal service right the way to full lock!
Problem has gradually got worse and SWMBO said it did it on a roundabout yesterday (so i stopped her using it) (no clunk but she felt as if it was pulling against her for a brief moment!)
Took it to a pal's place today to see if he could find anything wrong (very good mechanic but has no time to book it in for over a week)
I turned the steering back and forth while he lay under the front end, and (you guessed it) it wouldn't missbehave.
He checked the UJ on the steering column and all the bushes on the idler arms etc and couldnt find anything wrong
He suggested may be a prob with the pump or steering box, but was too unfamiliar with the car to give a decent quick diagnosis!
Any thoughts where / how to check things???
Need it back on the road ASAP so all help gratefully received!
Alan

[GRASSMAN]

Hi Tintin,

Had a similar thing on mine, a sort of "lumpy" feel to
the steering, but could'nt find anything wrong, then
one evening NO power steering at all!! the pump had
come loose, got it home , tightened the nuts and no
more probs. (looking down on the pump, turn the steering
wheel and you can see it move) you will need a helper for
this bit unless your arms are 8' long

Hope this helps.

Gman.

[tintin]

Cheers Gman, but as said there was 2 of us looking at it today. I'm sure if the pump was moving my mate would have spotted it. But i will deffo check it in the daylight tomorow.
Thanks mate
Alan

[BUSHWHACKER]

Cheers Gman, but as said there was 2 of us looking at it today. I'm sure if the pump was moving my mate would have spotted it. But i will deffo check it in the daylight tomorow.
Thanks mate
Alan

Drive belt tensioned?

[lord lucan]

belt slipping

[tintin]

Belt is deffo OK.


next


Al

[BUSHWHACKER]

Belt is deffo OK.


next


Al

Are you positive? It has to be quite tight well, tighter than the air-con or alternator belts anyway.

Next step would be this.....
http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/?doc=16&cid=142&vid=922

Or replacement pump.


Is the notchyness still there when the engine is revved whilst turing the steering wheel?

[tintin]

Will check that ot today, thanks Vince.
Where is the tensioner for the ps belt Vince?

Alan

[BUSHWHACKER]

Will check that ot today, thanks Vince.
Where is the tensioner for the ps belt Vince?

Alan

There's a long adjuster bolt on the front of the pump going towards the block (14mm spanner) similar to the alternator's adjuster.

[tintin]

Cheers mate, just felt the belt, seems fairly taut (about 12mm of play in the centre!!)

Al

[Albannach]

Cheers mate, just felt the belt, seems fairly taut (about 12mm of play in the centre!!)

Al

That's too much play for that wee belt. There should be next to no play in it.

[tintin]

Cheers Andy, will tighten it a bit.
But in the meantime... just posted this on daemon....

Think i've narrowed it down....................

The noise (clunk ) that goes with the split second loss of power steering is definately coming from the back of the front drivers side wheel.
Spoke to my mechanic friend by phone and he said he was pretty sure, when he looked at it briefly the other day, all the steering bushes seemed ok.
He suggested it may be the CV joint !
Does this sound feasible
(it does behave like something's broke on the back of the wheel, like its missing a bearing or something)
Questions

Is it actually called a cv joint? (the central joint behind the hub,covered by the rubber gaitor)
Is it easy to srtrip down?
Anyone got a part number for replacements from roughtrax?
Is it easy to replace?
Etc, etc, etc....
thanks guys
Alan

[Albannach]

If it is the belt that's slipping, you will get a clunk from the steering box, which is kind of behind the wheel.

It is called a CV (Constant Velocity) Joint. Can't get on RT's site just now for some reason. And it's a doddle to change. But I doubt it's that, a duff CV joint normally only manifests it's self when being driven (4wd) and would be constant.

[tintin]

I had my boy turning the steering lock to lock, (engine running, stick in park)
while i had my head right down there, Really sounds like the clunk came from the back of the wheel, not the PS pump!! Only happens about one in 20 turns!!
Doesn't do it at all if you lift the wheel off the dround (only when under load)

I really dont think the belt or pump is the problem!
Very gratefull for the info and help so far!

Alan

[tintin]

Something inside the gaitor allows the wheel to swivel left and right on the shaft!
That's where i think the problem is, i suppose the only way to be sure is to start stripping it!!