Power Steering Very Noisy

[Scorpiorefugee]

A few weeks ago I had a bit of a coming together with one of those infernal rising barrier thingies. The intercom and call button had failed and been replaced with a temprary one about 9" from the floor meaning that I had to open the door, get down on my knees and talk to the operator. Of course,by the time I got back in the car, the posts had dropped out of sight and the red light was hidden behing the windscreen/door pillar. Net result one wrecked tyre (New!) wrecked steering pump, undertray and a few other things bent.

 

After 2000 miles with no power steering it is all now fixed but after a couple of days I now have this unearthly noise coming from the steering which is definitely tied to the steeering pump rotation but seems to be coming more from the direction of the rack. It started as a whine, developed into a loud rattly moan and has now gone a bit qieter again. It drives OK but it is possible to feel a vibration through the steering wheel when on load which is in step with the noise which seems louder in the car than outside.

 

Any thoughts please, and after the above I expect I shall deserve any flack that comes my way.

;)

Edited May 26, 2009 by Scorpiorefugee

[SEVEN UP]

hi just had my steering pump renewed on my 56 plate galaxy 58000 miles just had it done under warranty but they didnt just change the pump they fitted a new rack all pipe work tank!! they said under warranty it nedes all doing because metal fillings were in the oil filter thus could cause the pump to fail again so they renewed it all which in my eyes is good, mine was same symtoms as yours hope this helps

[Scorpiorefugee]

Thanks Seven Up,

That all sounds a bit more expensive than my old crate is worth. Hopefully, mine shouldn't be the same because the old pump hadn't failed, just ripped off it's brackets and mounting castings broke. It is just possible that the S/H replacement has done its worst though.

 

Question, did yours make the noise and was it still working?

[Scorpiorefugee]

Sorted.

 

Simple really. It was all caused by a kink in the feed pipe to the pump. The original had been wrecked in the impact that destroyed the pump and as a direct replacement wasn't readily available and I needed to get it mobile again the garage had fitted a piece of normal rubber hose as used for heater plumbing etc. I just couldn't believe the racket it was all causing and the stares from pedestrians.

 

I can't imagine what some unscrupulous garages would have invented to charge for to fix it.