steering wheel shudder

frd906 · 23-09-2009, 12:58 PM

hi guys

i was at centrelink the other day, i hopped in the car and went to reverse out and as soon as i turned the wheel i had this shuddering through my steering wheel, and knocking noise from my steering rack,

when im driving the car on the highway, i have no problem at all with it, only dose it when the car is stationary and turning the wheel

can any one help me would be good

becuase im not driving it anywhere to far till i fix it ,

cheers matt

POELWYK · 23-09-2009, 01:31 PM

check your brakes and stuff

frd906 · 23-09-2009, 01:36 PM

im getting the rack replaced and a camber kit on, and i will see how its goes, the steering wheel is a bit loose, the guys who did my wheel alingment told me becuase of the width of the tyers and the size of them that the steering wheel will become more lose, is this true,

and after they did the alingment i have a knocking noise in my steering box, they told me its normal, is this true

bout 2 years ago when i first got my licence i put the car up the gutter and blew both left hand side tyers, so im thinking i did the damage then and now its starting to take affect,

POELWYK · 23-09-2009, 01:39 PM

i dont think that would do it if it was it would of done it when u did that but its only done it after the alingment id be thinking thay dident do it right or something along them lines

Erich · 23-09-2009, 01:58 PM

no - any knocking noise is "not" normal

Possibly may be rack - but it could be tie rod ends, or bushes etc. If you felt it when yiu reversed out at speed - thats scary right there!

A lot of places that do front ends will give you a free quote - takes 2 mins to check out the fronT end on an AU

RG · 23-09-2009, 02:04 PM

It's also good practice to always be moving at least a little when turning the wheels. That relieves a lot of stress from the rack and pump.

GS608 · 23-09-2009, 02:20 PM

Yeah was just about to say that, my driving instructor drummed in into me to NEVER dry steer, always be moving.

frd906 · 23-09-2009, 03:15 PM

i will check the power steering fluid today, and top it up, the rack was leaking before i bought the car off my parents, but didnt leave no oil marks on the ground,

good thing is i aint travelling far far away, so i need to get it done soon,

i went back to the place who did my alignment and they told me its becuase of the tyers or something, the suspension is all good just the steering rack has jumped a cog so the steering wheel is out a bit and and is very scary, i was slowly moving out of the park when it shudderd, never did it before

noe i have the problem with my tbar doing the same thing, my tbar has the jerks, dosent go into gears just jerks backwards and forwards,

i think maybe its stuffed or something, i dont no

The Monty · 23-09-2009, 03:31 PM

Your problem is you dry steered. Your trying to turn sticky rubber under about 800kg of weight on ashphalt. Not a smart thing to do.
Can you explain how a rack "Jumps a cog". Id love to know this one.

svo supporter · 30-09-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monty

Can you explain how a rack "Jumps a cog". Id love to know this one.

Easy answer there. Check out an exploded view of a rack and you'll understand. I will say, it was wrong terminology with the use of the word "cog"

If the rack is loosing fluid, replace it. It is also possible, the knock you gave it a couple of years ago may have come back to haunt you in the rack.

Replace it and I'm sure you're problems will be solved

frd906 · 23-09-2009, 04:20 PM

well see the rack has be knocked from my previous accident, so has koncked it and put the steering wheel out,

The Monty · 23-09-2009, 04:56 PM

It wouldnt be your rack that is out, Im no expert but Id say that is impossible. Your problem with alignment will be caused by tie rod's, rack ends, stub axle, etc, which when you hit something will put it out of place, not your steering rack.

bodes-sh · 23-09-2009, 08:27 PM

power steering pressure switch. i get this occasionally when turning the wheel too fast when moving slowly. its what has been said above, also, tyre pressures can affect it too as will wider tyres. the pressure switch controls how much fluid goes from the pump to the rack, so if not enough fluid is getting pumped through the steering will "lock up" and make the shuddering feeling. if you replace that first it should help with the problem. if you are loosing fluid and nothing is dripping on the ground it is probably leaking inside the steering rack boots, so it will need a new rack or your current one reconditioned.

JC · 23-09-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

power steering pressure switch. i get this occasionally when turning the wheel too fast when moving slowly. its what has been said above, also, tyre pressures can affect it too as will wider tyres. the pressure switch controls how much fluid goes from the pump to the rack, so if not enough fluid is getting pumped through the steering will "lock up" and make the shuddering feeling. if you replace that first it should help with the problem. if you are loosing fluid and nothing is dripping on the ground it is probably leaking inside the steering rack boots, so it will need a new rack or your current one reconditioned.

Agree 100% with this diagnosis.

ronwest · 23-09-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

power steering pressure switch.

Cheers mate. I get it as well but only reversing out of my drive when I swing onto the road. Nowhere else!

No leaks or fluid usage so I'll try a pressure switch first.

oh, is it the same pressure switch for speed sensitive and non-speed sensitive models?

frd906 · 23-09-2009, 08:37 PM

can get one fitted by a mechanic shop for 500 bucks, trouble is they go and buy them from the wreckers and reco them, thats 500 bucks fitted and for the rack,

so i might go see my ex diesel mechanic who also loves his fords and find out how much for him to do it for me, and take it at the same time to be aligned at his alignment place,

frd906 · 23-09-2009, 10:32 PM

thanks for that, getting it check very soon by my parents mechanic

frd906 · 24-09-2009, 12:18 AM

might be that we are steering it to far around untill it cant go no more and its causing it

ronwest · 24-09-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frd906

might be that we are steering it to far around untill it cant go no more and its causing it

Not in my case, at least.
Not turning ps to full lock is something I learned 30 years ago ;)

frd906 · 28-09-2009, 08:33 PM

question is e series power steering rack same as au series 1 rack

blownv8au · 29-09-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frd906

question is e series power steering rack same as au series 1 rack

no they are different, e series bolts down au bolts on and probably other differences to.

frd906 · 29-09-2009, 08:04 AM

bummer.

i guess a new one through ford would cost me a arm and a leg.

im waiting for ford to get back to me on how much a brand new one is from there supplier is,

so will wait and see,

im going to day to my mechanic and get him to take it for a drive and to inspect it to see if it is the rack, will update laters

frd906 · 30-09-2009, 05:07 PM

$360 for new power steering rack from ford with warranty,

should be fitted next week by my mechanic,

also my lifters done with a service at the same time cheers

The Monty · 30-09-2009, 07:00 PM

The rack I pulled out of my car was exploded. It was in a few pieces when we pulled it off, lol. I only drove it around the block and nearly crashed, and wondered why the hell it was so hard to steer. Plus the rack was bent so far on one side it was rubbing on the sway bar (iirc).

frd906 · 30-09-2009, 09:04 PM

the rack has copped a few knocks, humps and bumps the 2 accidents i had,

it is leaking and was told it would drop out, the box that is

answer this

in theroy do they set the wheels up so it pulls off the left, so when you fall asleep behind the wheel the car will take you slowly off the road instead of going into the traffic, what the guys at the wheel alingment place told me??

FreddyDUZ747 · 30-09-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frd906

answer this

in theroy do they set the wheels up so it pulls off the left, so when you fall asleep behind the wheel the car will take you slowly off the road instead of going into the traffic, what the guys at the wheel alingment place told me??

Ummm,that would be the camber on the road me thinks.

Swedishmoose · 09-10-2009, 07:03 PM

Hi there...

I've got a similar thing going on with my steering .

The steering wheel sometimes start to slightly vibrate when turning and making like a mourning noise. It doesn't happen all the time and it happens when i am stationary or drive at low speed. When i slightly touch the accelerator and build up more pressure in the power steering pump its gone.It does it sometimes when the car is cold, sometimes when the car is warm...its confusing...

Fluid level is ok and no leaks.

Everything else is fine and it does it randomly and it is very hard to relate it to a particular circumstance.

Could it be air in the system or a faulty pump ? The steering rack seems to be fine...no clonking or knocking noise at all besides that indicator switch bolt, which automatically turns the indicator off when the steering wheel goes straight again.

Well..like I said...it feels like rubber is rubing on something with a light vibrating and mourning noise when turning...

I am thankful for any idea or information or advice

greetings

The Moose

frd906 · 30-09-2009, 09:23 PM

i went back there 2 or 3 times and told them the left hand wheel is out,

they kept saying that all cars have a slight pull to the left so if you fall asleep its designed to pull you off the road instead on to on comming traffic

svo supporter · 01-10-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frd906

they kept saying that all cars have a slight pull to the left so if you fall asleep its designed to pull you off the road instead on to on comming traffic

One word. Bulldust. They were too lazy to set the camber and caster properly, so the car drove straight. Or alternatively, couldn't be bothered telling you the real reason the car goes left. Or they didn't know why it did.

Cars start drifting left because it's the left front wheel that generally gets pushed back. The left front is surposed to be slightly further forward, to counteract the road slope. The reason behind this wheel being nudged back is by nudging shopping centre concrete blocks and nudging kerbs. So if you think about it, the left front is the first to touch these things, so goes back.
I could go further into it, but I think it'd be pointless. Might be best to go else where where the aligner actually gives a damn about having your car driving straight and explaining why it won't, without the bulldust

The Monty The rack I pulled out of my car was exploded. It was in a few pieces when we pulled it off, lol.

Not worth commenting on. You obviously know everything about racks then and would know why it couldn't jump cogs. I must remember that next time I see something like that happen. It just can't.

The Monty · 02-10-2009, 04:50 AM

The Monty The rack I pulled out of my car was exploded. It was in a few pieces when we pulled it off, lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Not worth commenting on. You obviously know everything about racks then and would know why it couldn't jump cogs. I must remember that next time I see something like that happen. It just can't.

Well then dont comment you dipstick. I dont know what planet your having a whinge from, but if you lookinto my build thread in the AU workshop builds, and look at the pictures, youll see a rack that was in a few peices that we pulled out of my car when we bought it, as it had been in an accident and was a repairable write-off.

If you actually read the post properly, like any normal person, you would have noticed that I was backing you up. Time to get off your high horse I think.

You can certainly tell when its school holidays around here.