Further power steering oddities.

[undernutter]

Aside from the fact that it'll be a sod to manoeuvre, is it likely to lead to any further problems? For example lack of lubrication to the rack. I am assuming that there is no fluid in the system.

Car in question is a P-reg Rover 800 2 litre auto saloon. I am considering buying it, but will have to drive it 100 miles or so home. If I have to trailer it then its not worth it.

Thanks in advance

Dave

[composimmonite]

I'd say ensure PAS pump drive belt disconnected and reservoir kept topped up that way at least rack will have lubrication. To be honest, seeing you might have to change them anyway, I'd source a replacement pump and pair of hoses for fitment "by the side of the road" for journey home.

[steveo3002]

pump could nip up and throw the belt which may drive other stuff like the alt or water pump

[AB car pix]

In my experience the rack should be fine, I've run PAS racks in a few things without fluid both due to a breakage and also deliberately when using a non standard setup. Never had a rack fail in those times.

[v8ian]

The easy way to drive the car with the pas not working, is remove the pump belt, and the pipes that feed the rack, can make a bit of a mess, but the oil is now free to move about inside the rack or box and make the steering reasonably light,

[bmw2101]

the rack will be fine, you don't have to remove the belt, the pump will only displace volume, or so i was told, my friends m3 did a pipe in on a rally at ty croes, we just drained the oil out, he did 2 days rallying, when he got home changed the pipe all was well...

[vitesseefi]

Did this recently with a Seat Arosa 1.7SDi, though we only had to go about 35 miles.

It was described as having a fluid leak from the pump. This was true but it was a bit worse than that as the pump bearing had collapsed.

I would have preferred to remove the belt but as this also drives the water pump and alternator it was not an option. Any fluid tipped in just fell straight through. Until we did this with the engine running when it no longer leaked significantly though there was still no assistance. It was rather noisy.....

Got home no bother, just a pity I forgot to position a tray under the pump before switching off........

Changed the pump for a good used one. PM on the old pump showed complete carnage and much missing material so ran 5L of ATF through the system, filtered it and ran it through again. Did this about 3 times while working the rack from side to side. This did seem to remove most of the swarf.

PAS worked fine at this point and still does. Was more than half expecting the rack or even the replacement pump to die of swarf poisoning but all seems fine > 5k later.

My suggestion would be remove the belt if you can and don't worry about the rack. If you can't remove the belt then try the above. Don't forget your AA card. If you get day insurance from the AA you can join for the day as well.

Good luck

Nick

[undernutter]

Thanks for your input chaps, do appreciate it.

I didn't buy the Rover in the end, but what I have gone and bought is a skoda felicia. 1998, 1.3 litre estate manual. Terribly underwhelming to drive and flimsy compared to my E28 beemer, which I've had to take off the road after it got bent by a massive deer.

Anyway, The steering pulls to the left, and sometimes judders. At first I suspected this to be the tracking or a bush, or a bent control arm, but when driving through heavy traffic, the steering turned itself to the left in a sort of pulsing motion of its own accord a few times.

This, and the fact that there is no evidence of uneven tyre wear, leads me to suspect the PAS. might it just need a top-up or is the pump perhaps on its way out?

Thanks in advance once again

Dave

[colnerov]

Hi, I would say that is a problem with the valving in the rack. One of the valves is slightly cracked open allowing pressure through to push the rack, without any input from you.

Colin

[bortaf]

Could be the diff but when they pull it will be a VERY hard tug on the wheel, the one thing it wont be is the pump IME, if it pulsed whilst turning then it might be the pump.