Power steering help... pls..

[admstng]

OK, after beating on my car one night.. i notice that my power steering had pretty much stopped working... i hear the pump whining... the fluid is full... and i get different resistance depending on wich way i turn.. I trurn right i it's like their is no power steering at all... i turn left and i feel about 50-70% resistance...


what could be wrong? rack? pump? anyone have this problem...


BTW... when i turn right... i hear an odd sound, lol. It sounds like a baby crying, or little kid screeming.. lol.. very low though...

 

[90silverstang]

sounds like the pump. Make sure when you replace the pump you flush the old power steering fluid out or your pump and rack won't last.

 

[zeusmoto]

ditto same happened to me a few days ago, also not quite sure i agree with the beating of mustangs

 

[admstng]

ditto same happened to me a few days ago, also not quite sure i agree with the beating of mustangs

Since you mentioed that... lol.. here goes..

I had a mustang a while ago and i beat on the thing everyday until it was a POS, and basically totaled with out crashing it... I picked up a 90' coupe and i do take care of it.. this friday i went out with some friends,, I got drunk and my somewhat sober friend drove my car... letting out of 1st gear slowly at 4000RPM, going over curbs.. just driving my car like an ahzz whole... now all of a sudden i have this problem...last time i ever let this happen...


If this is the pump, and opnly the pump... how much should i expect to pay for a rebuilt/used pump and labor at a fair shop?

same Q for rack?..


btw, I don't have tools/time to do it myself, i know changing the pump is easy.. I also can't afford to mess somthing up and loose a day of work.. lol

 

[zeusmoto]

uhh prob around 80-90 bucks for a used one i think, and maybe and hours worth of work, so prob around 180-200 dollars depending if you shop around

 

[90mustangGT]

I would put money on it it's the rack and pinion. The pump is working fine. Otherwise why would it turn one way fine and the other way not at all. There are internal seals in the Rack and Pinion and there are also valves, so when you put pressure to the wheel, it opens the valve and fluid enters that side of the rack, pushing it the way you want to turn the wheel. Either the valve is bad or the seal, more like a ring, inside the rack is gone, like a piston ring blown out, it holds no compression, so flid just bypasses to the return line.

 

[90mustangGT]

Wait, You did say your pump is whining, maby it is time to replace the pump as well. When the pump starts whining alot, it ususally means it's internally comming apart. It could be a combo of the two, but I am still betting on the rack. It will send matalic substances in the fluid which will eat at the seals and valves in the rack. Your suposed to flush your P/S fluid, even though the dealer doesn't say this, it gets old and dirty too.

Go manual rack and never have this problem again!!!

 

[Michael Yount]

I'm with 90 - if it's displaying different symptoms on left and right turns - I'd suspect the rack/pinion more than the pump. I bought a rebuilt pump at Autozone for $46. Rack's are much more expensive. I suspect this has more to do with your drunk (sorry - somewhat sober) friend driving it over curbs and such; and you were probably too drunk to accurately remember, so no debates on that front.

I'd have the car put up on the rack and good close look taken at the front suspension. If he drove it the way you say, there may be other problems as well - look for bent/broken stuff in the front end - wheels, tie rod ends, etc.

You get credit for fessing up to what really happened - and you get the lecture. Had a good friend killed by a drunk driver - not a lot of sympathy or patience for people who drink and drive. Good luck with getting it fixed. And next time you party, use a taxi. It's MUCH cheaper for all concerned.