[christover1]

My Vitara steering has been slowly getting heavier,
and now acts like normal steering,
I have to move forward to turn it, especialy when in 4wd.
Can't find any leaks, or loose belts.
Pulley seems to spin fine on the pump.
Could it just need a change of fluid?
No idea how old it is.
Or do I need to start looking at box or something else?
cheers
christover

[weaves]

my mate had a similar problem with his hilux, i just drained it and put some fresh fluid in it, then bled it out. His fluid in the reservoir was really clean but the stuff down in the box was milky/grimey

fixed it a treat.

[alien]

check oil level in the box - mine did all sorts of weird and all it needed was some lube =)

[steak_knife]

weaves wrote:

my mate had a similar problem with his hilux, i just drained it and put some fresh fluid in it, then bled it out. His fluid in the reservoir was really clean but the stuff down in the box was milky/grimey

fixed it a treat.

I agree, & I have been told by some one that's allegedly smarter than me that Dex3 shit's once it's been to hot, get's to a temp then just die's.
Some thing like that, I wasn't listening..

[SuziBlu]

steak_knife wrote:

weaves wrote:

my mate had a similar problem with his hilux, i just drained it and put some fresh fluid in it, then bled it out. His fluid in the reservoir was really clean but the stuff down in the box was milky/grimey

fixed it a treat.

I agree, & I have been told by some one that's allegedly smarter than me that Dex3 shit's once it's been to hot, get's to a temp then just die's.
Some thing like that, I wasn't listening..

goodo.

[christover1]

Went out for another play with steering,
and it was working fine.
It may just be getting to hot.
It was parked for about an hour and a half.

My old Sierra had Vit power steering, it was leaking like a sieve.
I put Moreys power steering conditioner in
(supposed to be a temporary fix) but
Never had any problems after that.

I think I will flush and replace fluid, with some Moreys added.
The cheapest and easiest thing to start with.

Do they have a drain hole, or do I remove a pipe or two?
Thanks all

[ajsr]

the lines arent colapsing as they get hot are they??
my high pressure line has a fairly tight bend in the flexable section near the box and sometimes it sortof kinks a little and the box plays up.
I'll get a custom line made oneday when it shits me enough

[steak_knife]

Just take the pipe's off, once thay are off turn the wheel from side to side slowly, this will make a bit of a mess. Eng not running tho!!!
Then fill it back up & repeat if needed..

Spose you should put the hoses back on before filling it..

[christover1]

ajsr wrote:

the lines arent colapsing as they get hot are they??
my high pressure line has a fairly tight bend in the flexable section near the box and sometimes it sortof kinks a little and the box plays up.
I'll get a custom line made oneday when it shits me enough

I will check that out next chance I get.
Got doctors and boring crap to do first,
then I'll have a closer look into that.

My Sierra ps lines were all over the place

Maybe Ellis Tk was its final straw

[christover1]

steak_knife wrote:

Just take the pipe's off, once thay are off turn the wheel from side to side slowly, this will make a bit of a mess. Eng not running tho!!!
Then fill it back up & repeat if needed..

Spose you should put the hoses back on before filling it..

Sounds like a plan... can't hurt to try it.

[steak_knife]

My complete system with a cooler only take's 1.25lt's, so it's a cheap fix if that's what it is, if it isn't you have ruled out one potability..

[christover1]

steak_knife wrote:

My complete system with a cooler only take's 1.25lt's, so it's a cheap fix if that's what it is, if it isn't you have ruled out one potability..

Might consider a cooler, once I fit some MAN sized tires on it.

[royce]

I guess its posible the valve in the pump that sets the pressure could stick open and drop the pressure as well, pull the screen out of the reservoir and look for any grit

I have a great way to change the fluid, but stekkys is probably cleaner

[christover1]

royce wrote:

I guess its posible the valve in the pump that sets the pressure could stick open and drop the pressure as well, pull the screen out of the reservoir and look for any grit

I have a great way to change the fluid, but stekkys is probably cleaner

Hoping not to need any new bits.
Crossing fingers that fresh fluid
and maybe conditioner will free it all up.
In my online huntings found a few synthetic replacement fluids
aimed at steering not automatics.
So that could be a goer.

We are making the steering system work harder
with bigger tyres, offset rims and lockers.

[steak_knife]

royce wrote:

I guess its posible the valve in the pump that sets the pressure could stick open and drop the pressure as well, pull the screen out of the reservoir and look for any grit

I have a great way to change the fluid, but stekkys is probably cleaner :)

can you pour it in as fast as it's shooting out tho??

[christover1]

I'll choose a slower method.
So I can see what comes out,
and what condition it is in.

Think I'll avoid dex 3 just in case.
this stuff looks good

http://www.nulon.com.au/products/Full_S ... ing_Fluid/

[royce]

system was designed for dexIII I cant see why you wouldnt use it

fit a cooler and worry about other things in life, like why people still drive sierras

did you notice any heavy spots in the steering or any groaning from the pump?

[christover1]

royce wrote:

system was designed for dexIII I cant see why you wouldnt use it

fit a cooler and worry about other things in life, like why people still drive sierras

did you notice any heavy spots in the steering or any groaning from the pump?

I have very poor hearing, but can't hear or feel anything horrible.
I would say no noises at all.
Was a bit stiffer at near full right lock.
But after cooling down, it was running smoothly and easily.

It has always been heavier than the same steering on my sierra, but vit is much heavier.

[christover1]

Did do a quick look around rest of steering, nothing obvious stood out

[steak_knife]

I'm with royce on the dex3, in most case's it will never get to the death temp, the oil in yours has probably never been changed..

[royce]

normally it will expand enough to blow out the lid and make a great mess when it gets hot, but yeah 40000km and it should be changed

[christover1]

royce wrote:

normally it will expand enough to blow out the lid and make a great mess when it gets hot, but yeah 40000km and it should be changed

It has been losing fluid thru the lid for some time,
so needing new fluid is looking to be a good bet.

[christover1]

steak_knife wrote:

I'm with royce on the dex3, in most case's it will never get to the death temp, the oil in yours has probably never been changed..

I'm guessing this is true.
I never changed mine in Frog, but it was new fluid when fitted.

[royce]

christover1 wrote:

royce wrote:

normally it will expand enough to blow out the lid and make a great mess when it gets hot, but yeah 40000km and it should be changed

It has been losing fluid thru the lid for some time,
so needing new fluid is looking to be a good bet.

does it look like it leaks above the seal, like through the spring loaded bit in teh top of the cap? mine does that

[christover1]

royce wrote:

christover1 wrote:

royce wrote:

normally it will expand enough to blow out the lid and make a great mess when it gets hot, but yeah 40000km and it should be changed

It has been losing fluid thru the lid for some time,
so needing new fluid is looking to be a good bet.

does it look like it leaks above the seal, like through the spring loaded bit in teh top of the cap? mine does that

Never paid it much attention,
figured it was all the odd angles I get it into.
I will look at that too

[alien]

i filled my steering box (not power steer) with lithium grease (high temp bearing grease) - its like clag compared to the standard diff oil you're supposed to use, but it worked a treat for me, and being thick its less likely to 'disappear' =)

[rick1970]

alien wrote:

i filled my steering box (not power steer) with lithium grease (high temp bearing grease) - its like clag compared to the standard diff oil you're supposed to use, but it worked a treat for me, and being thick its less likely to 'disappear' =)

Yeah my (std) steerbox is now filled with grey moly grease and works a treat.

If it played up hot, get it hot and jack the front wheels off the ground and try it to check if and mechanical binding is the problem. Not so common on cars, but seen new kingpins and thrusts fix a few truck steering pump/box problems .

A worn pump will usually work to some degree when cold, but drop its guts when things heat up. Ditto a internal leak in the box.

Could be a bit of shit stuck under the relief valve in the pump, but this will usually give a sudden problem, not one that slowly gets worse.

[christover1]

thanks all, will get started on it later today or tomorrow.

[dougies_tx5turbo]

i am starting to get a similar problem in my 05' jimny 88,000.
basically whats happening is when i drive for about three minutes the power steering feels like its not even there.
but when you let the car sit for an hour it feels right again for a couple of minutes.
so ive got two qustions.
Q1. i read through that you guys have been talking about dex3 and power steering conditioner, what would be the best fluid to replace in my jimny and Q2. christover1 what happened with yours, did you have to replace anything such as a valve in the pump like royce mentioned?
all opinions would be greatly appreciated. cheers Doug.

[christover1]

Still running mine with Moreys conditioner in it.
Have not had any problems since.
It is a replacement fluid, that can be topped up with ATF if needed.
Just changed the fluid recently, as top of box started leaking.
Still steering properly, no more leak.
Was $9 well spent.