TdI assisted steering help

[Gringo]

I've just read Les' excellent tutorial on replacing the pump, and have done a forum search, but haven't seen the answer I am looking for.

I am still in the earliest trouble shooting phase, to try to determine where the problem is. I live on a small remote island and any parts I order are basically unreturnable. I have a pile of brand new parts here sent by mistake from the UK that I don't need, yet bought. Hence, my old maid caution trying to determine exactly what I need before internet ordering from across the sea.

The symptoms are just hard steering. It started fairly quickly. It does seem to get slightly better with the RPMs up, but still, it takes about three times the arm strength to turn the wheel than it took when everything was fine.

No unusual noises. There is no sign of fluid leak, and in fact i went to top it up and it wasn't particularly low. I topped it anyhow, and there was no change, it didn't fix it.

Any ideas on how to isolate the problem before I go tearing things apart? Does this sound familiar to you guys? It's an '06 model year ( they tell me) VID SALLDVAF75A705785, if that's of any help.

We've just decided NOT to junk this 90, due to severe rusting, but to turn it into a restoration project. So you're going to be seeing me pleading for help here and there for the next few years.

[western]

Try lubricating the steering column UJ's, their existing lubricant dries out & the joints get stiffer to move, last time I lubed the joints on my 110 I used a few drops of PAS fluid.

[Gringo]

thanks for the suggestion. It would be good news indeed if it's as simple as that, and reasonable in this salty place where we live.. If I understand correctly, you used power steering hydraulic fluid as a surface lubricant?

[Mo Murphy]

Just spray wd40 or light lubricating oil on to the column ujs, give the steering a work out and then repeat.

HTH

Mo

[western]

thanks for the suggestion. It would be good news indeed if it's as simple as that, and reasonable in this salty place where we live.. If I understand correctly, you used power steering hydraulic fluid as a surface lubricant?

Yes,to PAS Fluid, it was out to top up the PAS tank so added a few drops to the UJ's, while I had the fluid to hand. but WD40 or a light lubricating oil or bicycle/motor cycle chain fluid would be fine too.

[cackshifter]

If you think they are truly seized, it is sometimes good to start with something penetrative - paraffin, diesel, plus Gas etc, give it a few wiggles and work it in, then add the PAS Fluid etc, which can then creep along the thin stuff. If you jack it up with both front wheels clear of the ground it should still be reasonably easy to turn the steering wheel without the engine running. If not try disconnecting the drop arm, and the nearside trackrod end in turn. That should pin down the area where the stiffness lies. But if its fine to turn like that and not under load, I think you are looking at a hydraulic problem or maybe a swivel bearing

[Gringo]

I havent been able to get to the store for some lube yet, but thanks for all the suggestions. I'll give it some shots of TriFlow or Boeshield in the morning. It's drivable, but more of an upper body workout than is safe while moving.

By the way, WD-40 is good stuff, but it's not a lubricant. It's a drying agent, and solvent. The "WD" is for Water Dispersant. It seems like a lubricant because it dissolves the grease already there and refloats it.

It'll get you unstuck and be okay for a while, but you really need to apply some real lube after flushing with WD 40.

[Mo Murphy]

wd40 is actually a lubricant but uses silicon to lubricate. As you say though light oil is best

[Aragorn]

Their website says it IS a lubricant and DOESNT contain silicone:

http://wd40.com/faqs/#a92

I do agree though, that light oil would be best once you get it freed off.

[Gringo]

I've seen claims that WD-40 is good for an amazingly diverse number of things from luring fish to dental hygiene to removing graffitti. They have a marketing department with a great imagination. I'm basing my comments on 8 years of experimenting with every lubricant and rust preventative I can get my hands on here.

It does seem to lubricate, at first, but if I leave it at that I find that the original problem is back very quickly. As a solvent, it breaks down the existing remnants of lubricant already there, and that re-distributes and works again, for a while. Then the solvent qualities of the WD-40 dry up and I'm left with thinned, old, lube.

Now, want to hear how freaking BAD Rustoleum paint is?

And did you know that Baby Oil is absolutely nothing more than mineral oil with a fragrance in it? Yep. We been greasing our infants up with petroleum products for years.

Gotta love those marketing departments.

[jbs]

Now, want to hear how freaking BAD Rustoleum paint is?

Go on then, How bad is it?

[cackshifter]

And did you know that Baby Oil is absolutely nothing more than mineral oil with a fragrance in it? Yep. We been greasing our infants up with petroleum products for years.

Gotta love those marketing departments.

So, might be able to standardise on EP90?