HEAVY STEERING

[marco2002]

Just been out in the car today got some roll bar bushes i ordered waited 45 mins in queue at eurocarparts..... On the way back the steering has started to feel heavy. Doesn't do it all the time seems worse on bends. Checked the power steering fluid no loss of fluid check the pipes quickly all seems in order. Just about to go outside and have a look at the track rod ends thats about all i think it could be. Anyone else ever have this problem or maybe be able to give me a few pointers. lol

Thanks

[steve_earwig]

Is it heavier with the engine off still? Track rod ends, bottom ball joints, flat tyres even!

[marco2002]

Thanks Steve
Just checked drivers side brand new balljoint 1 month ago (no play from 12 0c to 6 oc), trackrod end seems ok (replaced last may), even checked droplink as well tyres ok all new ones as well. gradually replacing them...... Had a new pas pump at 110k as well new belt and bottom pulley a couple of wks ago. Do the steering racks on 406's ever give any problems? You could go round the bend falut finding. lol. Yep it does seem heavier still with engine off. I'm going to pop back outside and have a look at the passenger side.....

Thanks

[HimBigChief]

Did the speedo stop working at the same time? If so it's the speedo control box behind the glovebox as this also controls the variable assist PAS.

[marco2002]

No the speedo is ok today but a little while ago i had a problem with the speedo driving along at say 30 or 40 mph then the speedo would go to zero mph for a split second then back to 30 or 40mph. If it is this then is a new box expensive probably be a trip to the breakers or online quotes...........

[HimBigChief]

Yep, sounds like that's a likely culprit. I liberated one from a local scrappy, try doing a search as the speedo box has been covered many times, and there is a new price on one of the topics somewhere, can't quite remeber what it was off the top of my head, possibly somewhere around the £30 mark but I could be way off there!

[marco2002]

I've had a play with the o/s/f wheel and there is a very small amount of play from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock. got the mrs to put foot on the brake. Hard to see exactly where it is. Usually when the track rod end goes you get a bit of a clunking sound as it gets worse they usually end up welded in. Be very surprised if it is fitted a delphi one last may rather then the cheapo ones you get. I've just found a big metal bar so see if i can work out where the play is. If it was the bearing or cv joint could that make the steering feel heavy? Just trying to think of all the possibilties.

[jasper5]

The play is probably in the inner joint on the steering rack (side to side 9/3 is how you check that as well as track rod ends, track rod end wear usually gives you more movement in the steering rather than tightness.

I would disconnect each track rod end in turn and check for any tightness when you turn the wheel from 9 to 3 all the way back and forth.Any tightness here could be down to the top strut bearing.Serious play in the CV joint would cause tightness, but you would have other symptoms, including a noisy rattle on full lock.
With the TRE ends not connected, check for tightness in the lower steering column universal joint.
Maybe HBC has a point with what he thinks, I never had that problem so I don't know.

[marco2002]

The top mounts and bearings were replaced last january along with new springs and struts. no noise on full lock. I think i'll be going to the garage on monday. Had a quick look behind the glovebox hard to see where this speedo control box is tucked away found the resistor pack though what a nightmare to get the plastic bit behind the glovebox out. I guess its designed to stop us fiddling about lol

[Doggy]

Mine doesn't have variable rate PAS, so I'm thinking MAYBE later D9's don't have it / don't all have it.
(Could be worth a check on ServiceBox for your car).

[marco2002]

Mines a w reg 2000 plate. I'll mention that to the garage tommorow. Drove car today done 40 miles and so far its been ok. Yesterday it seemed to be quite random when the steering went heavy yesterday. I couldn't see anything behind the glovebox that looked like a speedo control box there were to biggish connectors one green and the other one was red followed the wires and they didn't go to any ecu's. The Mrs is just driving it up to the shop so maybe she will notice it as well. Thanks for that bit of advice though.

[DiscoPol]

If you PM or post your vin number i will have look on servicepox for ya, mines a 2000 w reg GTX and doesnt have the variable PAS too if thats any help.

[marco2002]

cheers much appreciated VIN=VF38BRHZExxxxxxxx. At least i should be able to give the garage a few ideas tommorow.
Is it easy to sign up for servicebox or do you have to be trade only?
Thanks

[DiscoPol]

on it now mate, dunno if you have to be trade but i had a go and got a user name and log in, and defo not trade lol.


ABS WITH ABS BRAKES
REAR ANTI-ROLL BAR REAR ANTI-ROLL BAR DIAM 22
ANTI-THEFT DEVICE STANDARD ANTI-THEFT
STEERING UNVARIABLE POWER STEERING
FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR DIAM 23
SERVICE BRAKE ELECTRONIC BRAKEFORCE DISTRIBUTION
BRAKE TYPE VENTILATED FRONT DISCS/REAR DISCS
POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING SYSTEM WITH POWER STEERING OIL COOLING
SUSPENSION NORMAL SUSPENSION
ACTIVE SUSPENSION WITHOUT VARIABLE SUSPENSION
DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WITHOUT ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM
EMERGENCY BRAKING ASSISTANCE BOSCH BRAKE SERVO

[DiscoPol]

anything else you want to know bud just give me a shout.

HTH