S

Sniperbait

New Member
I've got a bit of a problem... I replaced the seals on my steering box (which I will never do again....) 10 months ago and it has been fine, untill the other day. The steering has become stiff when changing direction severly, ie parking and so I bled the air from the system and added some fluid, which sorted it. Within a couple of miles of normal town driving, low and behold, the system needed bleeding again. I cannot find a leek (yet) but my investigations are hampered by the ammount of fluid from the bleeding process and from where it leaks from the filler cap. When I open the filler cap after driving, the level is very high and there are loads of tiny bubbles in the fluid. I'm going to power wash/steam the area and have another look for any leaks. It seems odd that air is getting in, but not much fluid (if any) is getting out except from the top of the filler. I may try a bottle of that seal sweller stuff, (you never know) has anyone else had this problem???

And I presume that the pump is belt driven and so the pressure is higher at higher revs... which may explain why there is no obvious leaks as I steer it stationary at idle revs?
 
if your steering has air in it you just need to turn the wheel from lock to lock to bleed it, it sounds like you have a leak, check where the pipes are fixed under the radiator, they always split there ;)
 
I gave it a few turns and paused at each lock for a couple of seconds and re-bled. I didn't see any fluid at the base of the radiator, but then I have just fitted a huge great steering guard which is making it a little difficult to see what is going on under the front. I'll get the box cleaned tomorrow and look for leaks.
Do you think I may be correct about the increased pressure at higher revs?

Ta, 'bait
 
What about the UJ's in the linkage? Sometimes when they get stiff people automatically think it's the pump. maybe why you can't find a leak.
 
Not sure if this is of help but don't forget that the system has no pressure at any engine revs unless the steering is being used. Pump just circulates froth into header tank when idling...
 
Forgot to add that i've had a similar problem and the seals were gone in the pump and steering box had the rebuild both, was a 110 v8 tho so pump might well be different. Pump leaking was obvious though because of the neet line of oil sprayed round the engine bay lol :)
 
Sadly there is no obvious leak, I've still to get the engine steamed as I've just not had time before work (I start at 2 tomorrow so plenty of time). I dont relish the prosepect of getting both the pump and box done.... :(
 
Right, i've washed the oil and crud off the steering box and still cant find a leek. A bit of further investigation seems to show that turning the steering wheel (on axle stands running at idle speed) for a few mins does not show any bubbles appearing into the steering fluid header tank. When I rev the engine for 10 secs or so (as if driving) then bubbles start to appear. If I steer when reving it seems to have no effect to the time taken or to the ammout of bubbles appearing so I am going to take an educated guess and rule out the steering box for now and concentrate on the pump and pipes.
 
Problem cured (for now).
I refurbed the PAS pump and the bubbles seem to have gone, thank god. If I never see a steering pump again I shall be a happy man.
 
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