power steering woes e36!please help me out

[danutt 4]

ok so i knew the pump was stuffed..previous owner didnt notice screeching noise

got a second hand pump..defintily in better shape than the one i took out and doesnt make any noise on rotation unlike the broken one

do i put the new pump on and took out the old fluid by draining it and turning the wheel lock to lock several times

added fluid and fired her up

turned the wheels etc and added fluid

problem is this:

i had an intermitant vibration through the steering wheel at stand still with the old pump

with the new pump, i have a constant vibration through steering wheel until around 1200rpm and it goes away steering is better than before:angry:

could the vibration be from air still in the system?

wont be engine mounts because there was no vibration ony now since the pump change

vanos is not rattling and idle is fine but engine seems slightly rougher??

any help would be appreciated, thanx in advance

Edited May 20, 2010 by danutt

[pureboiracer 0]

if the vibration was from air in the system it would only vibrate when you turn the wheel.. if that is the case then i suspect thats what it would be. if not, have you checked that the motor or exhaust isnot touching the steering rack or collum or anything?

[danutt 4]

if the vibration was from air in the system it would only vibrate when you turn the wheel.. if that is the case then i suspect thats what it would be. if not, have you checked that the motor or exhaust isnot touching the steering rack or collum or anything?

will jack it up today and check that out cheers mate

but if its not that what could be the issue?

[pureboiracer 0]

ummm nothing really. if your getting a bad vibe through the steering wheel when engine is running and your not turning or moving or anything then it will be something touching the steering thats vibrating.. not really much else it can be.

[danutt 4]

ummm nothing really. if your getting a bad vibe through the steering wheel when engine is running and your not turning or moving or anything then it will be something touching the steering thats vibrating.. not really much else it can be.

double checked the install of the new pump and did everything correctly

took the serpentine belt off and ran the car for 5 secs when it was cold and there was no vibration

so it hasto be something to do with the power steering since i changed it

had another look at the pipes and the large pipe that goes to the reservoir has 2 bends in it and could be starving the pump causing vibration?

cheers

[pureboiracer 0]

if the bends look like kinks then yes, take off the pipes and blow through them, make sure fluid is getting through and they are not blocked... i guess a pump with no fluid around (may) cause your problem but usually they are just noisey if there is air in them... try bleeding it again 1st and see if that helps, failing that just go through and check that nothing is blocked and that lines are round the right way, fluids goin through etc...

EDIT: just thought of it... if the valves in the power steer rack are dodgy then that may cause the problem.. not 100%sure on that though..

Edited May 14, 2010 by e30li

[danutt 4]

if the bends look like kinks then yes, take off the pipes and blow through them, make sure fluid is getting through and they are not blocked... i guess a pump with no fluid around (may) cause your problem but usually they are just noisey if there is air in them... try bleeding it again 1st and see if that helps, failing that just go through and check that nothing is blocked and that lines are round the right way, fluids goin through etc...

EDIT: just thought of it... if the valves in the power steer rack are dodgy then that may cause the problem.. not 100%sure on that though..

ok so i put a new straight pipe on it bled it and its still there soooo

took pump off and going to get another second hand one hopefully this time its in better nick haha

the rack doesnt leak out of the boots and the boots arnt filled with fluid so im guessing the valves are still all good

the original pump gave an intermitant vibration hence i decided to change it before it damaged the rack

now the second hand one vibrates more so hopefully the second second hand one will be a charm hahaha

[danutt 4]

ok so i put a new straight pipe on it bled it and its still there soooo

took pump off and going to get another second hand one hopefully this time its in better nick haha

the rack doesnt leak out of the boots and the boots arnt filled with fluid so im guessing the valves are still all good

the original pump gave an intermitant vibration hence i decided to change it before it damaged the rack

now the second hand one vibrates more so hopefully the second second hand one will be a charm hahaha

got new pump in and fresh fluid worked a treat no vibration problem solved

[danutt 4]

got new pump in and fresh fluid worked a treat no vibration problem solved

well after putting another second hand one in there was very little vibration at first

decided to take it for a drive and the vibration slowly came back along with heavier steering

think i need to get a brand new pump now and thats $$$

does anyone know how much they are or have a contact i could maybe use to get one cheaper??

[*Glenn* 854]

Pumps dont normally give problems...it may be a restricted or collapsed (internaly) power steering hose. Get it checked by a specialist

[danutt 4]

Pumps dont normally give problems...it may be a restricted or collapsed (internaly) power steering hose. Get it checked by a specialist

before i get the rack checked which i might add has no leaks not even from the boots

are there rebuild kits for the pump? i see a few online but how about around auckland? haha

the kit replaces the bearings and seals in the pump and are (by the looks of it) under 50 bux for the kit

maybe rebuild and rule out the pump as the culprit

cheers

[Forrest 35]

^ Don't bother throwing money at it until you get it diagnosed, spend the money once, not twice. I don't know how many times Glenn says that on here.

Good luck.

[danutt 4]

^ Don't bother throwing money at it until you get it diagnosed, spend the money once, not twice. I don't know how many times Glenn says that on here.

Good luck.

will take it to a friend on monday then il know for sure...pump or rack...

thanks for the help will keep posting until the problem is solved

cheers

[danutt 4]

will take it to a friend on monday then il know for sure...pump or rack...

thanks for the help will keep posting until the problem is solved

cheers

ok so if anybody else comes accross this problem its the engine mounts well at least one of them

apparently the heat causes them to fail

im sending the coupe in either wednesday or thursday and will post the results:)

hopefully it sorts it out and i can move on to the next fix....the door handle hahha

cheers

[danutt 4]

ok so if anybody else comes accross this problem its the engine mounts well at least one of them

apparently the heat causes them to fail

im sending the coupe in either wednesday or thursday and will post the results:)

hopefully it sorts it out and i can move on to the next fix....the door handle hahha

cheers

found the problem!!!

alternator bearings are bad and worn causing the vibration:)

pump was either on its way out or fluid was crap but never the less its better now and all i need is a good alternator:)

cheers for the input