Power steering help needed.

Front axle, springs, shock absorbers, wheels, bearings, calipers, drums...
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bogbasic
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Power steering help needed.

Post by bogbasic » 19 Jul 2013 02:52 pm

Hello, my power steering packed up today.... bit of a bang and the fluid was all over the road ;-0

I need to know if it is possible to drive the car with the power steering not working. I don't want to burn out the pump or such like. Should I disconnect the belt driving the pump??

Didn't have time to find where the leak is yet.

Advice and helpful suggestions needed muchly, asap, if at all possible.
1988 340 1.4 GL, 218k, 5 door (Grey Bess). Gone to CBA.
1991 340 1.7 GL, 64k, 5 door, petrol blue (Deep Blue).
1988 360 2.0 GLE, 140k, 5 door, ocean blue metallic (Blue Bess).
1989 340 1.7 GL, 108k, 3 door (Red Ness).
More info here!

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Chris_C
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Re: Power steering help needed.

Post by Chris_C » 19 Jul 2013 03:00 pm

Think it's going to be a case of whats gone and how far you need to go.

You can manoeuvre a car around the drive with the engine off (i.e. no system pressure) but it is *very* heavy. The fact you say you have fluid everywhere though means it's a different situation (no longer a sealed system) and my worry would be moving components that could be open to getting dirt etc in and screwing more seals that currently need replacing. Added to moving parts that have no lubrication on them any more than normally expect it.

*if* it's just a hose gone and you need to get the car home, someone like Pirtek shouldn't be shut yet if you have a local one? But obviously that means diagnosing which it sounds like isn't an option atm.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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bogbasic
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Re: Power steering help needed.

Post by bogbasic » 19 Jul 2013 06:41 pm

Awesome ideas. I will have a nose underneath tomorrow but if its not an easy fix, I'll leave it to the pro's cos it my heaveryday car at the mo ;-0
1988 340 1.4 GL, 218k, 5 door (Grey Bess). Gone to CBA.
1991 340 1.7 GL, 64k, 5 door, petrol blue (Deep Blue).
1988 360 2.0 GLE, 140k, 5 door, ocean blue metallic (Blue Bess).
1989 340 1.7 GL, 108k, 3 door (Red Ness).
More info here!

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bogbasic
Posts: 1861
Joined: 21 Nov 2004 10:12 pm
Location: New Malden, Surrey.
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Re: Power steering help needed.

Post by bogbasic » 20 Jul 2013 01:01 pm

Bah humbug - the end of the rack has popped right off and I can see the shiny ali innards... must've been sumthin major cos it sounded like the scraping the curb but I didn't think I had....
1988 340 1.4 GL, 218k, 5 door (Grey Bess). Gone to CBA.
1991 340 1.7 GL, 64k, 5 door, petrol blue (Deep Blue).
1988 360 2.0 GLE, 140k, 5 door, ocean blue metallic (Blue Bess).
1989 340 1.7 GL, 108k, 3 door (Red Ness).
More info here!

Cliché Guevara
Posts: 122
Joined: 22 Jan 2012 05:51 am

Re: Power steering help needed.

Post by Cliché Guevara » 20 Jul 2013 10:11 pm

Hey there off topic.I just clicked on Blue Bess' scrap book.I really enjoyed the read.I like the foot note from the independent on sunday,what a bunch of crap! You have a car that very soon (if not already) will be getting comments like "Ooh I remember these" and "My dad/grandad had one of these and I learnt how to drive in it" Over here in NZ my Brother in law who is in his late 40 said that his dad wanted to buy one but coudnt afford the $45,000 price tag when new.

The best compliment I've had so far is "it looks a lot like an AE86.Keep up the good woork and it should be the last car you ever own 340pw

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bogbasic
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Re: Power steering help needed.

Post by bogbasic » 20 Jul 2013 11:16 pm

Thanks very much for that - nice one and a good reminder to fix the broken links which are sorted now, hopefully!

On the steering rack front, I now have two broken ones (racks not links) which I am hoping can be put together to make a working one, and hopefully one that lasts longer than 3 years!
1988 340 1.4 GL, 218k, 5 door (Grey Bess). Gone to CBA.
1991 340 1.7 GL, 64k, 5 door, petrol blue (Deep Blue).
1988 360 2.0 GLE, 140k, 5 door, ocean blue metallic (Blue Bess).
1989 340 1.7 GL, 108k, 3 door (Red Ness).
More info here!

CBA
Posts: 1071
Joined: 24 Mar 2010 02:14 am

Re: Power steering help needed.

Post by CBA » 01 Aug 2013 08:11 pm

oh dear.
i - Check the pump isnt going mental 'malfunctioning so badly as to cause catastrophic failure of any rack unlucky enough to be plumbed into it' before fitting a new rack.

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bogbasic
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Location: New Malden, Surrey.
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Re: Power steering help needed.

Post by bogbasic » 01 Aug 2013 08:19 pm

It seems to be sorted now by the garage... they sent both my old racks away and got a working one back....
1988 340 1.4 GL, 218k, 5 door (Grey Bess). Gone to CBA.
1991 340 1.7 GL, 64k, 5 door, petrol blue (Deep Blue).
1988 360 2.0 GLE, 140k, 5 door, ocean blue metallic (Blue Bess).
1989 340 1.7 GL, 108k, 3 door (Red Ness).
More info here!

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