2000 Laser--Heavy Steering

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  MS Paint on 19/06/2020 - 18:33

  Tyre pressures on front
  Power steering fluid level
  Power steering pump noises? What about when you hold full lock?

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    Shane34 on 19/06/2020 - 18:54

    Hi mate,

    Tyres are at 36. Power steering fluid is fine. I had a wheel alignment and the bridgestone guys test drove it and said it was OK.

    Not sure about full lock.

    I might take it back them and ask them to have a look. I'm thinking it might be something on its way out rather than full failure

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  BBear53 on 19/06/2020 - 19:46

  With the engine running, get someone to turn the steering wheel full lock left and right. You should hear a whirring noise which means the pump should be working. Check the steering rack for leaks. Undo the clamp holding the rubber boots on and check inside for severe leaking. If the pump is moving fluid, I'd suspect an internal failure of the rack. Obvious thing to miss but have you checked the resevoir to see if it's still got oil?

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    Shane34 on 19/06/2020 - 19:50

    Thanks mate,

    Yes the fluid level still appears normal

    Pump itself might be sluggish hey?

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  pegaxs on 19/06/2020 - 22:27

  Get your tie rod ends checked, they may be seized. Also get the king pins checked out. Get the steering top bushes checked out. And the power steering pump or internal relief valve may be failing, so that’s worth a check as well…

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    the Unforgiven on 20/06/2020 - 09:53

    King pins are in old cars and tie rods don't seize, they wear our and fall apart

    OP. Tyres should be at 32psi, not 36, that is on the high side, they did that to compensate for the heavy steering
    When I did alignments, heavy steering was caused by castor. Castor should be no more than 1.5 degrees
    I think those cars have a MacPherson strut front end and you really can't adjust the camber or castor on those cars,
    you can only adjust the toe-in. Is that right OP? Is that what the wheel alignment bloke did?
    Did he just charge you for a full wheel alignment or just do the toe-in? Did he check the front end for wear first? He should have, I always did; I jacked the car up and inspected the front end and then I shook the crap out of the thing trying to find any movement

    If the bloke did none of that, time to find another front end mechanic.
    Where did you go to get it done, to the local mechanic or to a tyre specialist?
    I used to work for Bob Jane, that was when they used to do it all; I worked at the Springvale branch, you may have heard of Zig & Zag :p
    I used to have a strut bender, so I used to fix ALL the cars to factory, or what the customer wanted, specs. You will have to find a wheel aligner that has a strut bender. More importantly, one that knows how to use the damn thing.
    Have you hit any gutters or pot-holes recently?

    BTW, what were the wheel alignment specs the wheel aligner set your car to?

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      Shane34 on 21/06/2020 - 19:22

      Hey mate,

      I did hit a pothole on the front left, that's what seemed to trigger it.

      I went to bridgestone tyre and auto here in Newcastle.

      I'm just looking at the report. theyve highlighted individual toe: on front they are now 0.3mm and on the rears they're 0.2mm.

      And the casters nearly identical to last alignment +01°24 +01°46 so it's either normal or they didn't touch it.

      And I agree about the psi

      My suspension does need replacing but it was a bearable ride before the pothole and with lower psi

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  aussieprepper on 20/06/2020 - 04:09

  You could have air in the power steering system?

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  Shane34 on 20/06/2020 - 06:22

  Thanks guys, will let you know if anything is found :)

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  Nugs on 20/06/2020 - 06:48

  Heavy steering = free workout
  .

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  Shane34 on 09/07/2020 - 15:58

  Hey guys, just an update from a few weeks ago. Mechanics said the problem is with the steering rack. So the most economical options seem to be live with it or try and find a used one in good condition from the wreckers.

  There's no obvious leaks but a few friends have told me that the power steering stop leaks have fixed similar issues occasionally too.