Power Steering Heavy

Having just fitted and struggled like hell with my new hydraulic pump , after topping up the reservoir with LHM, the power steering feels like a tractor! I have sat and reved the engine and eventually the steering gets a little more managable, but have I missed something obvious?

Do I need to bleed anything, or could the rack be knackered, or the power steering pump? Having never worked on steering components before I am at a loss, but pleased to be driving the beast again, at least in a straight line!

Cheers
Neil

Neil,

A couple of things to check:-

Have you run the pump for a while with the regulator bleed screw open to chase any air back to the tank?

To bleed the air from the steering rack turn the steering wheel fully clockwise and keep it there for 30 secs, then turn it fully anticlockwise and do the same.

Hope this helps

Cheers

noz

Are you sure that the hydraulic pump belt is not slipping?

Peter.N.

Thanks Noz

What does the regulator bleed screw look like and where is it located?

Thanks
Neil

Hi Neil,

Its a 12mm A/F bolt head located just below where the hydraulic pipes come out of the regulator. The regulator is located behind the radiator (to the rear of the car) and below the battery. The body of the regulator is located below the accumulator sphere. You can access the regulator and the bleed screw from underneath the car, its impossible from above.

Be sure to use either ramps or axle stands in case the car falls down on you.

Only slacken the bleed screw by half a turn. Under no circumstances remove it. There's a little ball and a spring which would fire out of there and be lost forever.

Cheers

noz

would you believe that with a twist of a screwdriver to tighten the jubilee clip holding the central rubber pipe on the top of the hydraulic pump meant that my power steering was miraculously returned!!!

DOH!