Noisy steering (only when cold)

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Quickie. My S2 has had noisy steering (but only when cold) for a while. I know it has a power steering fluid leak but even with the fluid topped up it's still noisy.

It's classic power steering noise; sounds like gears grinding against each other, and gets louder when you load up the steering. It quietens down pretty quickly, and is silent (as usual) once you are two minutes (and about four turns out of our road) into a drive.

If you re-start the car half a day later it's still quiet. Leave it overnight (or longer) and it's noisy again.

Any idea what this could be? (Other than very annoying?)


Oli.

P.S. An aside, but I went hunting for the fluid leak yesterday and discovered that of the two pipes on the bottom of the PAS fluid reservoir, one was very very damp and filthy dirty, the other was dry and clean. I am assuming this indicated a leak on that pipe, so I cut the end 10mm or so off and re-attached it with the jubilee clip. Is this a common failure?

 

[T3rra]

They do leak there, if your lucky. Noise is most likely the pump. I would guess the seal warm up and seals again?

Iv been getting the same noise. But only from a very cold start lower then 0 degs

 

[JamesO]

New hoses weren't a huge cost from OPC when I bought some last year, fresh fluid and a new belt wouldn't be a bad investment. If the hoses are starting to weep, chances are they will leak again.

 

[Lowtimer]

It probably just wants a seal kit - sounds like they have hardened off a bit, which is exacerbated by the cold. I need to do mine, to be honest. It issues the occasional moan when reverse-parking (but no other time).

 

[J4CKO]

I spotted this the other day that may be useful,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsZOhqSfy-Y

 

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Thanks for the answers. T3rra - sounds like yours is similar to mine - it only groans when it is started from a very cold start. Maybe a rebuild is due, that's a good suggestion Simon. However I think I'll probably make it wait until later on in the summer.

James, you are right about replacing the hoses. I can't thing they need to be OPC ones tho' - they looked like pretty boggo rubber hose (probably fuel hose). I'll do that at the same time as the pump rebuild.

Mark, great link, thanks. That doesn't look too difficult. Bet I spend longer getting the pump off the car than rebuilding it ...


Oli.

 

[Paul 290T]

The hose material is low grade hydraulic type, i.e. its internal braids are cotton, not nylon. But the end fittings have long and specially shaped steel extension tubes. This makes them non-standard in terms of what hydraulic hose firms like Pirtek could make up for you.

I had the ends re-swaged onto new hoses by a firm such as Pirtek. This cost me £20 against an OPC hose costing £170.

That was 12 years ago, so prices will have increased.

My re-swaged hose is still going fine. Also they used nylon internally braided hose, as the cotton type was not in stock.

Hope this helps.

 

[zcacogp]

Paul,

Thanks. The hose which I currently suspect of leaking is one of the ones that jubilee-clips onto the bottom of the reservoir. I don't know what's on the other end of it, but I suspect it's a low-pressure hose and hence it's all a bit less material-specific.

FWIW, I had two end re-swaged into a new bit of pipe for an oil cooler the other day by Pirtek and it was £40 (cash-in-hand, guv, on a Friday afternoon.) So prices have gone up a bit.


Oli.

 

[J4CKO]

Mine sometimes complains on full lock, is that the pump ? the belt is new and properly tensioned.

 

[T3rra]

Jacko yours is the pump, wouldn't hold on full lock, as the pressure keeps building. I stop just short.

The top hose from rev dose leak, could try nip up jubley clip, or if the clips cut in 2 it that could be your problem.

Iv got a recon pump from my S I will be putting on. I heard the seal kits arnt all that, as there's machine work as well 2 rebuild a pump probley. Kit will work, just won't last as long I guess.

My recon pump came from porche shop and didn't look recon, dirty and rusty pulley wheel :/

Iv got 3 sets off hoses now, ( one still on car ) So I may grab a Pritek bloke get him 2 re do a job lot.