Steering went stiff on roundabout

daveblueozzie · Post by **daveblueozzie** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:18 pm

Ste you can do yours and mine at the same time.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:55 pm

Cap on is best - saves splashback

If you don't let the system run dry when changing the fluid there shouldn't be any need to bleed it - mine was air free, but believe me the fluid fair gushes out into the container at speed

What you're doing is letting the old fluid out and tipping in the new stuff at the same time. It'll take about 20 seconds

Grahame at work · Post by **Grahame at work** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:25 pm

Sorry Dandy I think I have missed something there

Where do you top up the fluid if you have the cap on

Grahame

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:23 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:Good write up dandy! May do mine soon....

Whist on the subject...I take it the bleeding is done with the cap OFF alan?

Just because the fluid maybe discoloured? Isn't that taking keeping it clean a little to far?

moonshine · Post by **moonshine** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:18 am

helen&tony wrote:Gosh...reading this has got me scared....my left elbow is knackered, and I can't lift a 3 litre bottle of cola without severe pain....I don't know if I could handle a car if the steering suddenly went very hard. Is there any preventive maintenance that could forsee such a problem? Whilst on this note, is there a good schedule of maintenance for complete problem prevention , other than the service schedule....namely normally occuring problems (other than the cooling, as we've got that taped)
Helen

I wouldn't worry too much about it Helen. In my experience it is quite a rare occurrence. I drive about 25 - 30,000 miles a year in various vehicles from a small van, through my Bongo, to 7.5 tonne lorries, and double decker buses, and have experienced loss of power steering three times in 35 years. Once in the bus I mentioned earlier in this thread, once on a coach when the engine conked out, and once in a Ford Escort van when the engine blew up. I don't think it's a common problem.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:37 pm

Hi Moonshine
Thanks....that's re-assured me a lot
Cheers
Helen

missfixit70 · Post by **missfixit70** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:16 pm

When it did happen on mine it was only for a second & I was trying to go almost from lock to lock while pulling away, not your average driving state

So I wouldn't worry about it becoming a regular occurence.

brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:11 pm

Cheers Dandy.

How many pairs of hands do you need, to do this job?

Cheers.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:13 pm

Just the one pair Brora but a balancing act with my foot positioning the bucket!

The system can be bled with the cap on and the fluid level at full Grahame - it's just bleeding the trapped air internally when you turn from lock to lock.................

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:47 pm

The Great Pretender wrote:
bigdaddycain wrote:Good write up dandy! May do mine soon....

Whist on the subject...I take it the bleeding is done with the cap OFF alan?
Just because the fluid maybe discoloured? Isn't that taking keeping it clean a little to far?

No area escapes my polishing obsession

I dont think you'll actually lose your steering, you just lose the assistance,the steering will go heavier,as you are fighting against the power steering pump (that is not pumping) but you will still be able to steer the vehicle... You'll notice that it usually happens mid way round a corner, as the fluid slops about,thats when the air gets in,then is purged again as you straighten the wheel.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:54 pm

You WON'T lose the steering - the power steering is actually POWER ASSISTED STEERING. There's still a direct link to the steering gear.

Steering went stiff on roundabout

Re: stiff steering

stiff steering