Steering 'Noise'

[cdickinson]

Hi Folks,

When stopped or going very slow and applying a lot of steering lock (such as doing a 3 point turn), there is the odd occassion when a strange noise comes from the front which sounds like the steering pump - it's certainly something to do with the steering mechanism as it stops when I slow down turning the wheel. If I turn the wheel slowly the noise doesn't occur at all.
The car steers fine and the power steering is definately working.

I've checked the steering fluid reservoir and it's about 1/4 below max.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Chris.

 

[sawood12]

Is it like a whining noise - a bit like a belt slipping on a pulley? Mine does that now and again usually when I am steering from lock to lock when the wheels are at the extremities of their lock. My power steering belt was replaced at my last service and it has done it a couple of times since so I don't think it is that. I've just put it down to part of the character of my car as every part in the power steering system checks out OK. All the cars I've had in the past have had some noises coming from the power steering system so i'm just living with it.

 

[cdickinson]

I suppose it is like a belt slipping Scott. It's difficult to describe really and nothing else gives me cause for concern so I agree that it might be just one of those quirks that I'll have to live with - unless anyone can suggest other things to check.......?

 

[edh]

I think it's the power steering pump - "they all do that sir" ..........or at least they do when they get to this age & get a little worn

 

[Fen]

They almost all make a noise like Ed says. It's more a howl which I think is just the pipes picking up a resonance from the pump/fluid. It's usually worst reversing into a parking space for maximum embarrassment. Sometimes it is helped or even cured by changing the fluid.

 

[Guest]

It sounds like the Pump under pressure, when you turn full lock the pump is under max pressure and will make a noise, nothing to worry about, unless it falls off

 

[lali]

Is the 944 Power Steering pump shared with anything else in the VAG group? I think mines on its way out and am looking for a replacement.. failing that who does "good" refurbs?

 

[Fen]

I'fe got one sitting in my garage. Saying that I have a feeling the Turbo and S2 pumps are different. I can say with absolute certainty my steering has been silent since removing the PAS though []

 

[NeilW]

Yes, cavitation within the pump is likely. This is caused by a leak that allows air to be sucked into the system and bubbles to form. Fresh fluid can help for a while, and infact if the above is true you will probably be losing a small amount of PS fluid.

Where will the leak be? Possibly:-
1) At the jubilee clips on the underside of the PS reservoir.
2) Anywhere in the hard/soft lines.
3) At the pump itself, case halves leaking.
4) Steering rack - pull back the bellows and look for red fluid.

 

[mik_ok]

ORIGINAL: Fen

They almost all make a noise like Ed says. It's more a howl which I think is just the pipes picking up a resonance from the pump/fluid. It's usually worst reversing into a parking space for maximum embarrassment

Ours certainly does that. Almost every time I enter the drive*


*unless driving in forwards []

 

[richthomas]

You can get a rebuild kit with all new seals for under a tenner, and it's very straight forward to fit. Compared to over £200 for a reconditioned one it makes even more sense. I've rebuilt 2 now and you could do it in around an hour and a half, but last time I took a few hours cleaning everything, and cleaning the underside of the car while the pump was out. It really is one of the easiest jobs you can do and is well worth it.

 

[andygrey]

My 944S2 suffers some 'singing' from the PAS system. This is I belive caused by a high frequency vibration in the PAS pipes, not uncommon in a lot of cars. One cure is to lengthen one of the PAS pipe runs to tune out the senstive frequency.

 

[minitim]

I have had a similar problem on my 1990 S2, www.rennbay.com do a rebuild kit for about $20 that took less than 30 mins to fit and has cured all the noises. They even sent me a link to an instruction video (windows media player). Very helpfull (except dirty finger prints on the laptop)