Steering feels heavier, sometimes...

[AcID ZeR0]

Okay LOL I thought I've had it all from the Clio's I've owned but a new problem has occured or so I think.

Sometimes the steering feels a lot heavier than others, I mean it will be nice and light at one point and heavy the next on the same type surface of road.

I've just had new pads installed and the brakes have been blead, but I don't think they're rubbing as I can jack the car up and spin the wheels freely, would rubbing brakes affect how heavy the steering is anyway??

When I say heavy I mean the steering wheel gives feedback ie if i try and turn left or right i can feel more resistance than I normally would also I can't confirm 100% yet but if I turn the corner I don't think the wheel spins all the way back stops at about the 10oc or 2oc position depending on the way I turned.

Tyre pressures are how I normally have them, F-30 R-28

The car is PAS which is kinda worrying if it's the pump saying goodnight?

I mean it's not bad to drive even when it's heavier I'm just worried about the outcome should it get worse.

Any ideas, as I cannot for the life of me think of what it may be.

 

[Lunner]

Are you going at the same speed, there will be more resistance when traveling slower then when faster.

Check the PAS fluid level, and does the pump make any noises, esp when turning either left or right?

From what you ahve described sounds like your rack might be on the way out....around £270+vat for a new one from Reno fella.....but i ahve a 2nd hand one in my garden thats yours for £50 if the rack turns out the be the problem

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Sh*t f**king car can't afford to feed its addiction of new costly parts.
The pump does make a shhh.. noise when turning left or right at stationary which can be heard if you stand by the bonnet.

 

[Lunner]

Check the PAS fluid, and then my advice, don't worry about it till it breaks lol....can still drive a PAS car without PAS

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Kewl I'm a strong(ish) lad and can handle a car without PAS, I had two previous Clio's (For my sins) without it.
But yeah bottom line is if it does go tits up then it's time to move on and invest in something decent as mines quite old now (1996)

 

[Lunner]

Pah mk1 clios are FAR better than the new shite, PAS rack as i said if it is that will set yuou back £50 from me + postage and you can fit it yourself in a morning easy if you know what you are doing, or a day if you don't

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Just went out in it again and yes the steering is a lot heavier than it should be, although parking etc.. feels fine.
I was wondering will the PAS pack up completly or is it just likely to be hard during normal use as I can live with it like it is just need PAS for parking.

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Also, any way to find out for sure if it's the rack?

Cheers.

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Tells you what, now I come to think about it I did actually mount the kerb last week at about 30mph - whether that could have done anything to affect it?

If I took it to somewhere like Hi-Q would they charge me to diagnoise the problem?

 

[Daz]

Check the PAS fluid, and then my advice, don't worry about it till it breaks lol....can still drive a PAS car without PAS

Yea.. but it'd be stupidly heavy!

 

[AcID ZeR0]

I might get the tracking done see if that helps as the car pulls to the right and to go straight the wheel has to be at 11'oc.
can't see how that could affect how heavy the steering is though and why it's only suddenly started?

 

[TD172]

Sometimes the tension and condition of the power steering belt can cause problems. Halfrauds sell the right one for the 1.4RT (It's a 3 groove belt IIRC) . If you want to spend some cash, you can drain the reservoir by undoing the bottom pipe from it and top it back up with new fluid.

 

[AcID ZeR0]

Only recently had a new PAS and AUX belt put on a few weeks ago.

 

[TD172]

Only recently had a new PAS and AUX belt put on a few weeks ago.

Oh well, you never know.

 

[wiizard]

The question being... Is there a prefered method to taking the rack out or is it a pants down subframe out type jobby..