For the past 3 months, every time I turn quick or really whip my car around a corner or into a parking space, my steering makes a whining noise and the steering just feels lighter sometimes.

My car has 144K and to the best of my knowledge, has never had a power steering flush. Could the power steering system be near the end of its life or does the system simply need a flush?

I've driven a car with no power steering before and mine doesn't feel like that yet, it just whines and squeals a little when turning.

 

When my rack went out,it created problems.Might have it checked for leaks.My02.

 

Does it have a supercharger whine that traces rpm's? If so, then its probly time for a new power steering pump.

 

A couple simple checks. How is the fluid level? Are there any visible leaks at or around the pump or rack? How is the drive belt?

 

Sometimes my PS resevoir overflows on its own...how the ****s that happen? It's filled to the correct level, checked it multiple times.

 

There is a piston in the rack,and if it wears out,the fluid slips back,like having bad rings on a piston in the engine.Could be backing up fluid,back to the resevoir,I dunno.

 

Yeah, it sometimes does.

How hard is it to replace the power steering pump?

 

It's pretty straight forward. First you have to remove the serpentine belt. Then you have to remove the alternator. Four bolts I think (13 mm). Disconnect the power wire (13 mm) and the pigtail in the back. Now on to the power steering pump.

Disconnect the hose to the resevoir (held on by a squeeze clamp), disconnect the pressure hose (5/8 open ended wrench), remove two bolts (10 mm), and its free. You have to transfer the old pulley to the new pump. Use a gear puller designed for the powersteering pump, AZ lends them out. In the same tool kit that the puller comes in will be a tool to seat it on the new pump.

Please note: You may find it easier to remove the two bolts that secure the pump to free up some wiggle room to remove the pressure line. Or you may want to disconnect the pressure line from the rack to get the room you need.

Opposite of disassembly (gotta love that line), top off the power steering fluid, and you're done. Good luck.

P.S. Sorry if the sizes are off, trying to go off memory.

 

This may help:

http://ken.lowrance.com/projects/Pow...eeringPump.htm

 

Thanks for the information, it's a big help.

 

are you sure that your power steering isnt just airated(air bubbles) because if your ps pump were bad it would most likely fail, not have intermediate failure?

 

I'm not exactly sure what's happening, I just know that the steering doesn't feel right when I push it.

For example: Whenever I'm making a sharp turn and try to whip the car around, it'll whine and it kind of feels like the wheels are leaving the ground and not gripping well. I have this same feeling when I'm making a certain turn (I take every day) that has a little incline and then a sharp right. If I take it a little fast, it'll make these noises and then feel like I just described, but if I take it at idle speed, it'll be fine. Something is definitely wrong though.

 

I might have the same problem. I loose power steering off and on and now I have a almost bearing like noise. If I spray lubricant on the rear of the pump, it quiets down. I thought it might have been the belt but the noise is just not right.

It doesn't have any different noise when I turn hard but I do get a weird feeling sometimes almost like its easier to turn that normal.

Here is the sound recorded: WARNING might be loud when played!

Power steering noise

My fluid is low in the res. tank and there was a spray on the hood liner. But that went away and didnt have a chance to see where the spray came from.

What happens when the pump fails? Do you just loose your steering or does the pulley seize?
Oxy

 

The video doesn't help much, but from your post, it seems like you need a new ps pump.

 

Ya wasn't sure if that would have helped. The sound sounds like a bird chirping fast. Speeding up with the revs. When you first start the car you dont hear anything till about 5 seconds later.