Steering problem (regular then stiff)
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Steering problem (regular then stiff)
'98 ES 300 92,000 miles - No leaks from the power steering pump, at least not onto the garage floor
When driving and the steering wheel is in the 12 o'clock position the stiffness is minimal. Once I turn and go maybe a quarter of a turn the steering gets very stiff. Once I've made the turn, steering wheel won't come back to center. I have to turn it back. I would think pump, but its not really that hard to turn from center to 1/4 turn.
I would think if it was the pump it would be hard to turn no matter what position the steering wheel was in.
Not sure if my problem is the rack or the pump.
No squealing, fluid looks good, level seemed fine.
Problem also doesn't get better once the car is warm. Sometimes it does feel sort of better, not much though.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
When driving and the steering wheel is in the 12 o'clock position the stiffness is minimal. Once I turn and go maybe a quarter of a turn the steering gets very stiff. Once I've made the turn, steering wheel won't come back to center. I have to turn it back. I would think pump, but its not really that hard to turn from center to 1/4 turn.
I would think if it was the pump it would be hard to turn no matter what position the steering wheel was in.
Not sure if my problem is the rack or the pump.
No squealing, fluid looks good, level seemed fine.
Problem also doesn't get better once the car is warm. Sometimes it does feel sort of better, not much though.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Good news.....it's fixed and it didn't cost me a dime. It was the universal joint on the steering column. I lubricated it with some PB Blaster and turned the wheel back and forth several times and the problem was gone. I sprayed it with a little grease and off I went.
Thanks for the posts.
Thanks for the posts.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DWitis
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
14
Dec 31, 2023 10:20 AM
userix
LS - 4th Gen (2007-2017)
4
Dec 3, 2016 10:59 PM
navilexus
RX - 2nd Gen (2004-2009)
21
Dec 1, 2012 08:04 AM
labtec
SC - 1st Gen (1992-2000)
11
Jun 7, 2010 10:19 AM
