Power Steering - binding noise ?

Hi,

I've got a '98 300TDi Discovery (GS) Automatic with Power Steering and just noticed a peculiar thing. When doing a 3-point turn I get a sort of 'binding' noise - I think from the steering... actually, it sounds a bit like the brakes binding. I'll try to explain; Turn wheels to the right and creep forward, as get to end of forward movement start to turn wheels left. stop, put car into reverse and as reversing turn wheels full left -> this point, just as car starts to move get a 'binding-noise' for a brief period until car is moving backwards OK.

This noise happens whether I start out turning left or right ... but always seems to occur as I start to move backwards -> from forwards.

Does anyone else get this noise ? am I being doing something silly ... perhaps I should only drive in a straight line ... it is a landrover after-all, it's meant to drive over things.

I'd greatly appreciate your help, diagnosis ... should I be worried about this ? perhaps I should grease the brakes ?

DartmoorLandy

Hi DartmoorLandy,

I have a very similar noise on mine. Normally when manovering at low speed, if i've just been in reversing and then move forward whilst winding the wheel round to the opposite lock, I get a horrible groaning / grinding noise. I've had this for a while now and havn't got round to looking at it yet, but it has recently started to get slightly worse.

Sorry I don't have any answers for you but it dosn't seem to be anything really bad.
I did read on the rave CD that you can get air in the system, it says this can be purged by driving slowly around a large car park (with no obstacles or other cars) in a figure of eight (quickly turning from lock to lock). But this didn't fix it for me.

I'm sure others on here will have had this problem and fixed it, so guys if your reading this, whats the answer...

Hi S368 VOP,

hmmm .... yes .... it does appear to be getting worse .... I've been trying not to think about it ....

I'll try your figure-of-eight trick and see what happens. I've had a good look under the front end and nothing seems to be out of place ... everything seems solid. I haven't checked the lubricant levels on the swivel housings ... but trackrods and ball-joints etc all look ok to me.

I still have a nagging feelling that it is to do with the brakes ... being slow to release when loaded in the opposite direction to when they were applied...

oh well, just have to keep an eye on it ... and hopefully spot what it is before anything too drastic happens

Hi S368 VOP,

I've been doing some digging around, and found this article / forum thread ... thought you might find it interesting

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.fan.landrover/browse_thread/thread/3f9a9ce8043379e7/a86946c8f4460838%23a86946c8f4460838

Hi DartmoorLandy,

The point someone made about the seal on the bulkhead is interesting so i'll have a look at that when I get chance.

Strangely mine stopped making a noise for a few days, but then started again today, though not as bad as before (maybe due to the hot weather). I'm sure it will be back soon...

Meanwhile i'll keep my ear to the ground.