G'day, Picked up my DC on Friday, it has an issue with the power steering..

When I first test drove it I noticed the steering was very stiff, nearly to the point of no power assistance at all..

In between test driving it and picking it up the previous owner notified me that the power steering was leaking (apparently from a seal on the back side of the pump).

The car hasn't been used in about 5-6 years, he had started/driven it a very small distance during the period of the month between when I first looked at it and picked it up, so it hasn't been used very much..

The car only has 117,000 genuine kilometers on it and hasn't been registered since 2005 (they bought a new car and no longer drive the DC), and also it's a V8, so it has the V8 type PS pump of course.


I drove it home the 200 kays and the power steering fluid level didn't drop any amount that I could tell, so the leak isn't too bad at all..

Also the steering wheel column is touching the dash on the right hand side, and the car pulls to the left, not too major but very noticeable.
I noticed when going around a couple of round-a-bouts that the steering wheel 'ticks' a couple of times while turning it (and it's not the indicator!) the ticks are fairly quiet and not always present when turning.

I've heard that the E series have a problem with the steering column rubbing on the side of the firewall? I thought this may be a plausible explanation due to the plastic steering column trim touching on side of the dash..

Any help or suggestions would be great, just want to get a rough idea of what the possible problems could be and work out how much it'll cost me.. I'll have some spare time to get under and properly look at the rack, pump, lines and column on Monday.

Cheers luke

unbolt the steering column on the firewall and adjust its position,

also i have this exact same problem with my car atm not powersteering but no leak everyone that had a look at it said get a new rack i brought one havent changed it yet.

brad

Yeah thanks mate, I'll be having a good look at it on Monday when I've got a day off..

How's your XC going?

it'll be the pump. internally buggered. mine did it. lost power assistance. just chucked a second hand one i got off a mate on it. been sweet ever since

well i just got it back yesterday i got everything suspension and steering replaced so shortly i shall begin on panel work

Very good
I started unloading heaps of parts (X and E-series lol..) from my XC the other day..

I intend to start stripping it soon, all I've got out so far is the interior, g/box and drive shaft. I put the main front end panels back on when I moved it up to the garage.


Thanks WILDEB, I'll be able to have a proper look at it all tomorrow as I've got some time off finally..

are u going to sell any xc parts

Nah, I only put the XC parts I was going to keep in it while moving it to the garage.

I did have a 3spd manual column box.. Not much use to anyone though. The only thing I've got is an intake manifold with throttle body IIRC if that interests you?

There was actually a rolling XC shell with parts in the paper on Saturday for $200, sold before I could get to call him on a break at work though

I had a near identical problem on the EB2. Felt like power steering had just dissapeared and when i turned the wheel it made a more of a squeeking/straining sound.

I ended up buying a brand new recon pump on bad advice and fitting it to find out it wasn't the issue.

All I did was put a few drops of all purpose oil into the bearing where the steering column goes through the firewall on the inside of the car behind the pedals.

Low and behold nearly 3 years later it's never returned.

Had you same issue 2 weeks ago.

Was diagnosed to be the Rack, New rack now in and I can actually steer again. When pumps fail it feels internitant loss of steering until all the fuild has either gone or the system cannot recirculate the fluid any further.

My steering symptoms were, when cold car was fine, as soon as I did a few corners steering got heavy and notchy and stayed that way until it was left to significantly cool down.

Yeah thanks for all your help guys, I think I'll talk to some steering shops and see what they think.

If I can't get a "it's more than likely the (pump or rack)" then I'll just get a permit and take the whole car up to them.

I don't really want to spend a heap of money buying parts that I don't need.

I'll see what happens after talking to the steering shop today.