swmic

My recently purchased 91 C4 coupe (hopefully photos this weekend) has a strange steering artifact while turning left or right. It's a type of binding or resistance that sort of builds up when turning from the center position at around 45 degrees steering wheel rotation and then all of a sudden lets go and returns to normal as I continue to rotate the wheel. If I bring the wheel back from about from about 50 degrees to 40 and then back to 50, I feel it again. I don't feel the sticking point when I return the wheel to the center position. It happens turning both left or right.

To try to figure out what is going on, I jacked the front of the car up with the wheels off the ground and tried it, showing no problem. I then lowered the car down somewhat so the wheels were on the ground to offer some resistance and the problem returned. Also, if I shut the engine off and turn the wheel the problem is NOT there. This makes me believe the problem is with the rack and not a mechanical linkage problem.

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks,

Shawn

kgorman

flush power steering fluid?

KirkF

Could it be the bearing in the strut top support mount?
See part: 964 343 018 01

Just a thought.

Kirk

Megatron-UK

Do you hear any noises in the power steering while encountering the resistance? Symptoms like these often show up if there is a fluid leak or split in the lines and air is being pulled in.

Taj

The rack is under tension......this happens when someone tightens the lock nuts on either end of the rack against one another, effectively twisting the rack slightly hence the stiffness .......you may find that by releasing the tension in the rack you fix the problem....

swmic

Thanks everyone! I'm going to take your suggestions and see what I can find. I'll let you know if I find anything.

Shawn

rodders

my money is on fluid

swmic

It appears flushing the fluid has done the trick, well most of it. I flushed about 2 quarts through the system by loosening the two banjo bolts on the rack and starting the motor for a few seconds between reservoir fillings.

The sticking point I felt at 45 degrees rotation is now gone. I still feel a little sticking or resistance when I start to move the wheel but it's not bad. I'll try to flush the fluid again when I have time. I bet it will further improve the feel.

Thanks again for your suggestions!!

Shawn