Moaning Power Steering

[AAARGH 33]

Hey everybody.

My car has had very bad power steering ever since it was bought. The steering feels heavy and there is a moaning sound coming from either the pump or the rack,I can't tell which one. Apparently it was caused by hitting a curb at high speed so it might have affected the rack directly. The steering wheel also jutters violently at around 100 km/h.

When stationary and turning the wheel left and right, it feels heavy and changes to light, vice versa.

I have attached a vid of the sound below,turning the wheel left and right:

What could be causing it?

[StevenCJR31]

Sounds terrible! i mite be stating the obvious but have you checked the PS fluid level?by the way that is groaning it sounds like its low otherwise your pump is borked (worn)

[AAARGH 33]

The PS level looks ok,might drain it and refill though just to be sure.

Yeah I thought it might have been the pump,but if the car hit the curb is it possible it could have burst a rack seal or something? because that's where all the force of the hit would have gone.

[StevenCJR31]

could have burst a rack seal but that shouldnt cause the groaning that your getting, rain is easing sunday so suggest you chuck the car on some ramps and have a look underneath ,if you have any doubt bout possible steering damage then piss it off and fit another rack

[AAARGH 33]

Inspected the car today and found that the p/s pump is leaking oil quite extensively. The rack itself seems fine as it's not leaking and the boots are in-tact,no external damage.

Any tips or suggestions on how to go about taking this pump out and fixing it and what it might cost?

[Bl4cK32]

If you take the belt off, and remove the hoses, then the bolts holding the bracket to the engine it should come out.

Go to Nissan and see what parts are available for your particular pump. It should be similar to the r31 pump, then this might help:

http://motamota.r31skylineclub.com/index.php?topic=144627.0

Edited July 23, 2011 by Bl4cK32

[AAARGH 33]

Thanks for the link mate,it'l definitely come in handy.even if the r31pump is slighty different from r33,internal mechanism should be the same.

[Bl4cK32]

from memory the only difference is an extra chamber for the hicas

[ARTZ]

33 hicas is electric...

[Bl4cK32]

so it is. should be similar to the 31 pump then

[AAARGH 33]

So I did the overhaul on the pump, haven't put it back in yet though.

Now I'm about to do the overhaul/reseal on the rack itself,is there anything I should have to look out for/tips?

Aand, while I've got the rack out,is it worth buying new stiffer Nismo rack bushes or are they a waste of time? They're around the $80 mark both sides from RHD Japan, not too bad. Anyone had these?

Cheers.