1997 1.9Td estate, POWER STEERING funny noises, please help!

[Jimby]

Hey guys,

You all helped me out with the starting issues! thanks again. But now i've got her started again, i forgot that before i crashed, while i was driving home, i noticed that the power steering pump started making horrible groaning noises when steering at low speed. especially noisy when dry steering.

It sounds like the pump is really straining to work. Any ideas??

[teamster1975]

Fluid level? Auxilliary belt loose?

[Jimby]

yeah, i checked them both first. Fluid level is fine and the belt is tighter than a Jock accountant.

[steve_earwig]

That's probably the pump I'm afraid I had a similar noise when I replaced a hydraulic hose (goes when you rev it?) with a "home-made alternative" but if you've not touched the hoses then it must be the pump.

[Jimby]

I've been under it again today, trying to assertain exactly where the whining noise is coming from, and i know it sounds odd, but the whining noise is definately coming from the rack!

Has anyone ever heard of any power steering racks failing before?? or even just making a whining noise.

Anyway, i've ordered another one from my local 'vehicular recycling engineer', along with a pump. I'll change the pump first and see if that sorts the noise out, if not, i'll have a go at chainging the rack too.

Has anyone done thses jobs before?? i'm pretty sure the pump is straightforward enough, but are there any pitfalls/little tricks i should know about changing the rack?? It just looks like its in a bit of an awkward place...