Expensive grinding sound from steering!

[cobalt911]

Hi all,

Power steering suddenly gone very noisy and make a grinding sound which sounds expensive.....great....

Northways serviced it in December so I assumed the fluid levels checked etc. Took the lid off the power steering fluid chamber, cleaned off the residue and took a reading again - bone dry. I am guessing (will look at the manual later) that the two small indents on the probe sticking out from the cap provides the level?

Anyone had the same noises and was it cured by a simple top-up? I don't see any fluid on the garage floor.....

Hoping we are not into pump replacements etc....

Cheers,

Mark

 

[vic cohen]

If u used the right fluid to fill up PINK not green ....it cud jsut all be in a steering gaiter waiting to go splatas it bursts it like a big Zit !

More likely if res completely dry, pressure pipe from res to pump [ engine area ] has a leak , union or even pipes has a pin hole /if those noises pump may be gone as no lube in it for a while

Mo is right do nont mess abt take it in

Racks recon abt £600 fitted

Sdaly pump abt same when all done ...............using decent indie

Good luck ...............just think how the race cars run without power steering at all !

 

[cobalt911]

thanks guys - power steering works great still so will top up and creep to Northway and hopefully salvage without too much pain....I hope!

 

[plhorner]

Good luck Mark

 

[6271james]

Shortly after buying my 4S had a similar problem and found a pipe had come off, no sign of leak as fluid collected on plastic under tray. Strasse said it was fairly common for this pipe to come adrift and fitted some clamp or jubilee clip to prevent it happening again.

 

[John Maddox]

This happened to mine - noticed level had fallen and no obvious leaks. Oil was in the rubber gaiters. OPC wanted £1000 + Vat to replace rack. Took it off myself and got it reconditioned for £199 and refitted it. Been ok for 4 years now. If you do this yourself there is the extra expense of new bolts and a full geometry adjustment after disturbing the suspension also.

Make sure you do not run the pump dry as this is mighty expensive and can't run dry for long.

 

[day1zero]

Probably worth getting underneath and looking at the rack.....as above the fluid maybe still held in the gaiters a relatively easy check.

This will tell you if seals have gone in the rack....replaced the gaiters on mine a few months ago ... fiddly job but relatively simple

Good Luck

 

[cobalt911]

Just had a look under the front - pool of fluid right between the wheels so steering rack sadly! Called Northway and booked in wednesday onwards to have it refurbished. Saves about £700 on buying one from Porsche but car off road for more than a week and not in my garage at night which always makes me nervous for some ridiculous reason....

Thanks for all the pointers though but pretty obvious now!

Cheers,

Mark

 

[tomwinton]

Found this - of any use??

(no relation, not used them, so just for info....)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260434061879&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Ta

TOm

 

[day1zero]

That has got to be worth the effort of doing it yourself and saving £500 !

 

[cobalt911]

Thanks Tom.....I am far too inexperienced for that on my own! I prefer to get Northway on steering and brakes to be honest! Doing the ISV and other jobs fine but I would hate to bodge!

 

[cobalt911]

ok - so its back from Northway - all the fluid had leaked on my garage floor but with a top-up and careful steering managed to get her 25 miles without killing the pump (fingers crossed). Northway, as usual, did an impeccable job and also did the geometry as that was out following the removal. Not the cheapest job but half an OPC and I kind of trust these guys more if that makes sense! Now all I want to do is find a better way of protecting the arches with all the salt around!

Thanks for all the advice...

Mark

 

[John Maddox]

Sounds like a good result from Northway.

 

[verysideways]

I've used Ray Northway and his techs for YEARS, never given me any cause for complaint.
Car always feels better when i get it back from them too, more than can be said for BMW Reading! But that's a whole different rant []

 

[szklarek]

Me to, I agree regarding Northway's (always brilliant) and interestingly I have the same view about BMW in Reading - their customer service (or lack of it) is the main reason I never bought another BMW! Still can't complain - a 993 instead of a 7 series is a good deal!

Regards
Anton