Steering lock up.

Just have a problem with my steering it starts locking up on most instances when i am slowly turning left, it is pretty consistent and makes driving sometimes dangerous, anyone have any ideas before i take it to a power steering specialist?

I need to ask a couple of what might seem obvious questions first so we can be clear about things.

1) Are you in 4WD - 4H or 4L?

2) What kind of surface are you driving on - ashphalt, sand, dirt, mud, grass?

3) Can you turn the wheels full lock to the left or does it stop before there?

4) Has the vehicle had an impact with, say, a gutter - possibly causing a steering arm to bend?

5) Further to 4), do the tyres squeal as the vehicle goes in a straight line on ashphalt?

6) What is the rolling resistance like? If you coast along without touching the brakes, does the vehicle want to slow down more than usual?

Let's start with those and see how we go.

Hey yeah mate should of provided a bit more detail...

Nope just 2wd

Just driving on the normal road

Nah it locks up then if you apply a bit more pressure it eventually kind of free's itself and you are then able to go to full lock. Happens in the same position every time i turn the wheel to the left.

I have never hit anything hard at speed on or off road and nah i have never heard any squealing while driving.

The last question i will have to get back to you on as i will test it out tonight.

Thanks alot

Could be a sticking valve in the rack.

Yeah I'd assume there's something in the rack too, with that. Either a valve, or some gunk in the rack itself.

Could be a possibility that a bit of mud is stuck in there, it has progressively been getting worse over a few weeks but i think ever since my last mud bash was when it started.

Is it a big job to either get a new valve or a clean out?

Tommo77 said:

Could be a possibility that a bit of mud is stuck in there, it has progressively been getting worse over a few weeks but i think ever since my last mud bash was when it started.

Is it a big job to either get a new valve or a clean out?

Click to expand...

Yes, it's a fairly big job, I would be surprised if you picked up dirt or mud from your trip, Unless the power steering filer cap was off, there is no way for dirt to get into the system. I would say you have probably damaged the rack more so.

One other question, do engine revs make a difference? maybe the pump isn't working in the lower rev range.

Sounds to me very much like something is bent and touching...

It only does it in the lower rev range now when i think about it, when you are in 3rd gear and turn corners everything is sweet and it moves fine, if it was bent and touching wouldn't it go stiff with every turn?

Took my car to the steering place today and somehow i have damaged the rack as they have said there is quite a bit of movement going on, i have never hit anything hard so i am unsure of the cause. Just wondering if anyone knows the sort of $ i am looking at to rebuild it or get a new one?

Cheers