Straight and narrow?

[john 4d]

I think I may have a problem. The feed back I get through my power steering seems to have changed, I feel that I'm able to turn the wheel about a longer arc, that is say 4 O'clock to 8 O'clock, simply to keep to a straightish line, almost like taking up a float between two points. This morning taking an 'S' bend, moving from one lock direction to the other was a little scary. I haven't felt that before.
I do have evidence of a leak up through the top seal of the pinion assembly, but no more than a weep, no leaks else where and there's plenty of fluid in the pump reservoir.
What can be amiss?
John4d

[martin]

Hi John, does the steering weight stay the same ? M.

[john 4d]

Martin,
Yes, effortless, throughout lock to lock movement. Perhaps too easy if that's a fault. Expressing how something feels is quite difficult, degrees of float between a sense of feed back is the best I can come up with.
John4d

[martin]

It does rather sound as if your rack is on the way out. Have you tried CAREFULLY tightening up the pinion loading under the grease nipple bolt ? Martin.

[Rubce]

John

Check that the rack has not come loose on its mountings. I had a similar situation at New Year and the mounts where it fits to the front cross member were loose.

Good luck

Bruce

[V Mad]

John, as Bruce says check the rack mountings. Please DO NOT DRIVE YOUR CAR until you have found the problem.

One year on a trip to Cornwall my friend told me he had a strange feeling in the steering. I made light of it until we discovered the rack was about to fall off!

[john 4d]

Thanks Bruce, Chris and Martin,
The fault was as you suggested, the rack mountings. Sliding side to side as the lock was changed, hence the float. This would have been picked up during last years' MOT if there was any play, so the mounts have worked lose in between time, and not an uncommon event by the sounds of it. Perhaps a warning for us all, something else to check?
Thanks again, back on the straight and narrow!
John4d.

[martin]

Thanks Bruce, Chris and Martin,
The fault was as you suggested, the rack mountings. Sliding side to side as the lock was changed, hence the float. This would have been picked up during last years' MOT if there was any play, so the mounts have worked lose in between time, and not an uncommon event by the sounds of it. Perhaps a warning for us all, something else to check?
Thanks again, back on the straight and narrow!
John4d.

Brilliant, what a result, I'm embarrassed not to have thought of it M.

[Rubce]

Hi John

Glad you got it sorted.

I might be teach you to suck eggs but whilst rebuilding my car I torque indicated each bolted joint with a yellow line. This allows you to see very quickly if a joint has relaxed as the parts of the line across the nut, bolt or parents metal will not line up. We us this process at work and its very effective. You obviously don't do it on components which are up top and in full view but its great for the engine bay and suspension.

Regards

Bruce