power steering - works only when high rev's.

[lde]

hey guys

Ok, for almost year i thought that power steering in my '91 Feroza is just broken as it is very hard to turn the wheel when the car is stopped. Thought that power steering pump has to be replaced or something. However, recently i found that my power steering works when i push the acceleration pedals and the revs are high. The more i floor the pedal on the idle gear the better power steering is working.

What can i do to make it run nicely when car is running on the 800-1000 rpm?

anyone had such problem too?

Thanks a lot!
Lukas

[Dangerous Dave]

Try draining the fluid, filling it with fresh stuff and then bleeding the system. While your there you might as well grease all of the steering components just to make sure your not getting any increased friction due to a dry joint. The procedure is discribed step by step in the manual. If this dosen't work i'd say your pump is rooted. I have the same problem with mine. Replacing the fluid has improved the problem but it hasn't fixed it all together.

[murcod]

IIRC the powersteering pump has a vacuum line going to it? I'm not certain, but it is to either:
a. increase revs when the pump is under load
or b. to increase the pump assistance when the vacuum is high

Could be worth checking into?

There's also a place that does exchange pumps in Australia - they've got a website. Try googling and see if it turns up.

[lde]

Hi

Thanks for your answers. I will check it and let you know if there is an improvement!

Lukas

[Croz]

I have a similar thing, when I start the car the power steering doesnt kick in till I have upped the idle, if I turn the wheel immediately on start its heavy, then the idle compensator ups the revs and it comes free.

How hard is it to bleed the system? Has anyone done it? What to look out for?

[murcod]

Bleeding just involves continuosly turning from lock to lock a number of times. Can't remember how fast or how many times, but it's in most Gregory's manuals.