Tight Steering After a Rack Install

Recently the vehicle you drive had a leaking steering rack and it is leaving puddles everywhere you go. You think to your self "great! how much is this gonna cost?" so you find the power rack or power gearbox that you need online for a good price. The install goes well and the mechanic stands behind his work but the car is really hard to turn.  This must mean the part is bad...it is the only new part to the car and the old one turned fine.

After all this time and money the mechanic is telling you that the rack you ordered is bad and he will not warranty the labor cost. So now it is time call and scream at the company who sold the rack. But hold on...is there really issue tor more did the new rack that has exposed a preexisting issue. Many times an old power steering rack is loose and very easy to move, this means very little force is needed from the power steering pump. When the old worn out pump is now coupled with the new rack means that it may not make enough pressure to turn the rack. A tight rack can seem like a binding rack but it will never bind in both directions. An easy way to check for a failing pump is to rev up the motor and see if the car turns easier...if it does, you have a bad pump.

Mechanics don't care about diagnosing the issue most of the time if you bring your own parts but they are happy to charge labor again and again. Be sure that the company who is installing the part knows what they are doing and that they are good people. Every company can smile at you and act like a friend...walk onto a used car lot and you will have a new best friend till you buy a car but its all an act. Make sure the repairs to the steering system are done by a trust worthy company that can determine real issues for you.

Honda Accord Steering Moan Fix

In 2003 Honda introduced the new Accord with classically elegant lines and a few new upgrades to the interior. A new power steering rack and power steering pump were just a few of the updates. The car was a sales success selling hundreds of thousands of units but with great success comes great responsibility. When the accord begun to develop a steering moan on cold starts Honda was scrambling to find a solution that would not break the bank.

The solution came in the form of a 30 cent O-ring and about 15 minutes worth of work. The fix is simple and as elegant as the car itself. What causes the moan is air that has slipped into the system while cold and it creates bubbles or foam in the steering reservoir which will cause the pump to moan due to the added stress. The noise tends to go away once the fluid has warmed up but still the response "it's just noise" was not good enough for owners.

The process for fixing the issue is simple and will be covered in most cases by the deals but the owner must ask for consideration before beginning of the install. When the repair is performed the first step is to remove the inlet joint bolt and place a shop towel under it to catch leaks. Twist the inlet joint back and forth until loose and carefully disconnect the joint. Point the tube upward and remove the old inlet joint O-ring. Now apply power steering fluid to the new O-ring and with the new O-ring in place re-install the inlet joint. torque the bolt to 8ft-lbs and top off the power steering fluid as needed.

With this simple 15 minute install the moan will stop and no longer be problem, in the case that the noise continues check the levels of the steering fluid. The system may need to be bled to remove excess air that may have entered the system. If all the air is bled out and the system still moans you may actually have a failing steering pump and it is time for a more major repair.

The Technical Service Bulletin is shown at this link: http://www.buyautoparts.com/howto/honda-accord-steering-system-moan.htm

How to Center a Power Steering Gearbox

When installing a new power steering gearbox there are a few crucial steps that need to be followed in order to have a successful installation. Before installing a power steering gearbox or manual steering gearbox, it is important that the unit is centered. Many mechanics will assume that the unit is centered when it arrives, however usually it is not. Gearboxes can shift in transit, causing it to be misaligned. In order to center the unit before the install, follow these easy steps.

1) Place the unit somewhere it can be braced down and cannot move or fall.

2) Cover the spline with a cloth to prevent damaging the splines during the centering procedure.

3) Attach a wrench to the input shaft and turn until it stops. (never force the unit) This will be the extreme for this direction. (for this install turn clockwise first)

4) Once the unit is at extreme clockwise rotation, mark the unit or move the wrench to a position where the number of return rotations can be counted easily.
5) With this position marked, begin to rotate the shaft back clockwise and count the number of rotations. Be exact on this! Once the rotation stops clockwise, the complete rotations for the unit are known.

6) Divide the number the number of rotations in half and rotate the shaft that many turns back. At that point, the gearbox will be centered and can be marked for center, so that the center is not lost during the install.

7) Once the box is centered, follow the proper procedure for the gearbox installation.

When these short steps are followed carefully, the gearbox will be centered and there should be no issues with the vehicle’s steering.