heavy power steering

[jonno]

hi all,
this is my first post and hopefully someone can help. i have a 1994 maverick 2.7td with 120,000 o the clock.
first problem is as the post title says the power steering is very heavy making parking a real challange.when i increase the engine speed to above 1500 rpm the power steering kicks in and i can park. there are no visibleleaks and the fluid is at max. i am thinking the pump or maybe the box? all links and joints are ok.
second problem is at 45 ish and 55ish i get wobble in the steering wheel.one of the front wheels has worn uneven mainly the outside edge but also a grove has worn about 5mm on the inside edge,could this be causing the wobble(balancing out) or have been caused by the wobble? i have jacked up the front and there is play at 12 and 6 im thinking bearings can they be adjusted or is it replace them time?
last problem i think could be caused by the above problems but on the motorway above 55 the car wanders all over.

hope someone can help,jonno.

ps.thanks in advnce

 

[tezzer]

jonno, check tyre pressures first, and is power steering belt adjusted correctly, wheel bearing proberly just need adjusting, check ball joints for wear, loose bearing and worn ball joints can cause tyre wear, check tracking, there something to get you started, somebody will come back to you with other ideas. :thumb2:naughty

 

[jonno]

thanks for the reply tezzer.tyre pressures and belt are both ok. i will check ball joints in the morn.whats best way to check tracking. do you need a special tool for adjusting the bearings?

 

[tezzer]

thanks for the reply tezzer.tyre pressures and belt are both ok. i will check ball joints in the morn.whats best way to check tracking. do you need a special tool for adjusting the bearings?

for the tracking you will need to go to tyre shop or local garage to have it set up, for the hubs no special tools really, allen key, phillips screw driver and a hammer to gently tap the hub to release if tight, and a jack, i think thats all. :lol:augie

 

[makeitfit]

BALL JOINTS probably:augie
Take a bit of weight off the front and push and pull the wheels at:augie the top. You will feel the top ball joint if its gone:thumbs
Chances are the bottoms bad too if the tops gone. i also found out the hard way there are two types of bottom ball joints, so check your wheel camber incase someones fitted the wrong ones:augie
Good luck

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

i have come across heavy steering at low revs a couple of times on a T2, a thing worth trying is a shot of molyslip auto gearbox additive in the steering fluid, it worked for me.

 

[jonno]

i have now adjusted the wheel bearings there is now no play at 12 and 6 on the wheel top and bottom ball joints look and feel fine.ive changed the worn tyre with the spare which is good.re checked tyre pressures they are ok.all the front bushes are good and solid. took it for a spin and everything is still the same.still got a wobble at 45 and 55. i also got a power steering pump from the local breakers for £45 just got to pick it up tomorrow and fit that will hopefully sort out the power steering(or lack of it).

 

[jonno]

a thing worth trying is a shot of molyslip auto gearbox additive in the steering fluid, it worked for me.

hi plank,how long would it take to start working?

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

hi plank,how long would it take to start working?

If i remember right it was noticable in the first day or two, not long at all, i think it only needs to get round the system, we used to have a Molyslip contact on the site, i dont know if we still do.

 

[jonno]

great ill try that before changing the pump if i can get some tomorrow.

 

[BigBlack]

Hi Jonno,

With regards to your tracking I wouldnt bother taking it to Kwik-Fit or the type... they generally recon due to the size of the tyres and hight of the motor they cant garentee getting them right!

I used to get a wobble at 60-65... took it to the local agricutural tyre place and he balanced all the tyres and reset the tracking spot on... all for peanuts too! :thumbs

What area of Yorkshire you in? If your anywhere near Halifax in West Yorkshire and I'll let you have his details.

 

[paulp]

wheel wobble

Biglack rect no point going to kwiksh@t as all you will get is excuses.

a decent HGV or agricultural tyre specialist will do the job.

i had same problem and solved it the same way

paulp

 

[richtheracer]

Hi, the power steering on my MK1 SWB Mav has always been like this, when parking is a pain in the A**e but works fine and have no shakes / wobbles at speed. When it was MOT'd in June I had all ball joints, Bearings etc thoroughly examined but they were all fine. I too would like to know where I might find some of this additive!!
Cheers Rich..

 

[jonno]

just put in the molyslip will see how it goes over the next few days.
i got mine from the local motor factors for £7.99, hope it sorts it save me changing the pump.
as for the wobbles the local tyre bay guy ses its a defective tyre when i told him the symptoms. he can get me a pair of new bridgestone ht tyres (shop soiled) balanced and fitted for £50. he thinks that they should sort out the wobbles.

 

[jonno]

just a quick update,
the molyslip doesnt seem to have made any difference so looks like i'll be changing the pump when the weather gets a bit better.
decided against the bridgestone tyres after reading about them, gonna go for an at tyre instead but will post seperately about them.
swapped the tyres front to back if it is a dodgy tyre causing the wobbles this should sort it for the min.will know later when i go out.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

just a quick update,
the molyslip doesnt seem to have made any difference so looks like i'll be changing the pump when the weather gets a bit better.
decided against the bridgestone tyres after reading about them, gonna go for an at tyre instead but will post seperately about them.
swapped the tyres front to back if it is a dodgy tyre causing the wobbles this should sort it for the min.will know later when i go out.

well it was worth a try! I have had mixed results with bridgestones, i have some on a truck that are OK, but on our grand vitara's they were pants, If i were buying new i would avoid them, if budget is no object my favourite all round AT's would be BFG or Yokohama go12, but both a bit pricey.

 

[jonno]

all the wobbles are gone now i switched the tyres front to back.
if budget was no object i'd go for bfg at's too but i'll be looking at somthing cheap, i've been looking at the kingpin remolds with the bfg at tread pattern ive seen them at £42 online lookin about £115 for a pair with delivery an fitting,if you order 4 you get free delivery too.

 

[jonno]

just a quick update that may help someone out in the future, i finally had a combination spare time and dry(ish) weather to change the power steering pump.got a seconhand one off ebay for £20:thumbs, fitted it easily in an hour (2 bolts and 2 pipes) and i now have power steering working a treat so no more swearing when trying to park.:clap