AkCpS414

I recently had my power steering pump and high pressure return line replaced on my ES 300 and I have noticed lately my car is extremely hard to turn sometimes. Not always though... Today when I got home and noticed it again, I sat in my driveway in park and kept turning the wheel back and forth and it would be stiff and become looser before I had the wheel turned all the way, one way. While I am driving it, I notice at times it takes everything I have to turn the wheel, but the next moment its fine. Is this just because the new parts need to be broken in? I know I was used to how sloppy it was before my old pump blew but this is a little TOO hard to steer at times. Especially in the snow!

canucklehe

1) could still be bleeding air

2) maybe steering rack is going? is it worse in the morning, cold? (often called "morning sickness" on steering rack, until teflon washers heat up).

AkCpS414

It does seem a bit more stiff when I first start the car but also when I am barely moving. If I am going over 20 mph it isn't as hard to turn the wheel but if I am just letting the car roll without pressing the gas it's pretty hard to turn at first, once you get the turn started it is a little easier

PFB

Did you get a new pump, or a used pump? If a used pump than it may be the pump. But could still be air in the system, or even a slipping belt.

I assume you changed the PS hose cause it was leaking, but why did you change the pump?

Phil

AkCpS414

Yes I had to get a new power steering pump because my original finally blew (after 200,000 miles). Well the day after I got the new pump put in, we discovered the high pressure return line blew at a weak spot since the pressure was finally right with the new pump. I got the high pressure return line replaced about a month ago and now am noticing the tightness in the steering. Hope that helps a little! Thank you so much for helping me out!

canucklehe

power assist is only needed at lower speed. many cars use speed sensitive steering so at low speed, you have lots of power assist (like parallel parking), but at higher speed, you lose power assist to give you a feeling of positive response like a sports car. my '86 Prelude SE had it and it was a great feature.

i'm leaning to steering rack, especially with your Ks.

AkCpS414

Ok thank you for the information! I also posted another thread about a weird creaking/clunking sound that I hear almost in my gas pedal when I first start to accelerate, but I have not received any info on this yet. It's not in my brakes because it happens after I have let off the brake and continues for a second or two after I have started to speed up. Just thought I'd ask in case you have any ideas about this one as well! Thanks again for all your help!