Ok, got my 84S at the end of march. The steering would want to pull right especially on poor roads. I changed the inner and outer tie rods on both sides and had the car aligned. This helped but didn't fully correct the problem. I tightened the wheel bearings which were loose. The same day I did the wheel bearings, I corrected the rim positioning of the wheels. It turns out, that who ever had the car before me installed them wrong. The wider rims for the rear were both on the passanger side while the narrower rims were on the drivers side. Having corrected both of these problems has really made a BIG difference in the handling and the pull to the right. Everything I do makes things better! However, every now and then, due to poor roads, I get a slight pull to the right, sometimes left . It's not scary like before, BUT it isn't right and I don't like it! On to my question. I understand that the P/S reservior has a built in filter that can't be changed and replacement of the entire reservior is needed. If the filter (reservior) needs replaced, what sort of indications or symptoms might point to this? My steering rack doesn't have any external leaks so I don't think this could be the problem unless it's an internal leak. What kind of indicators point to internal leakage of the rack? Thanks in advance. Mike.........

 

Mike............its perhaps easier to flush the PS system with new fluid while replacing the reservoir and note the results. If still original the res. is 24 YO.

 

I guess my question really is, other than filtering the P/S fluid, would a cloged filter hinder the performace of the rest of the system, and how so?
Mike.........

 

If the filter were clogged it would restrict fluid flow to the pump and the pump would cavitate. If it did you would know it immediatly from the noise of the pump. If it still pulls to the right or sometimes to the left it cannot be the pump or the reservoir. Most likly the crown in the road or the wear patterns in the roadway. If you have an aggressive tread pattern on the tires IE high performance tires, they all tend to track with the grooves in the road.

Let us know what you find.

 

if you have an original looking resivour its a good idea to replace it.
first flush some old fluid through the old one, to do this open one of the lines at the bottom of the rack and let it drain turn the wheels a few times by hand back and forth. refit the line bolt and refill the system run the engine and then drain then remove the resivour and its hoses and replace them.
it should now be good for another 15 years

 

You might check the rack.

Determine the state of the rubber bushings through which the rack bolts to car.

Also, check the play in the shafts of the rack to which the inner tie rods connect.

If its like my 84 5 sp, the left shaft has fore-aft play. It seems to translate to the kind of road movement you note. All other parts on this car are brand new. This is apparently due to a damaged internal plastic guide ring.

The way to check is to raise and stabilize car on jackstands. Turn steering wheel to make a right turn to extend the shaft. Grab the rod and try to shake front/back (not in-out). It might clunk and move, if so, you are narrowing down your issue. Let us know.

 

Well before i damged my car this week i had the car lower ball joints replaced-all the symtoms you are describing i had the same problem-the new lower ball joints fixed all that-all my lines and reservoir replaced 6months ago,outer tie rods 4 weeks ago and the lower ball joints make the steering tight again-ps porsche dealers list them each 79.00 each and discount came to 63.00 or 65.00 a piece i suggest members here get at the dealer and have the 2 years warranty.....by the fact..