Calling OCUK mechanics.

D4VE said:
balljoints/track rod ends?

top mounts definately ok? how did you check them - take the struts out?

No I had agw outside the car with the bonnet open listening to where the noises where coming from whilst i turned the wheels, he said it sounded like the noise was coming from the bottom of the suspension.
 
Demon said:
Update: we've just tried my mates saxo VTS, engine off, ignition on, and with some effort we can turn it on the spot...

Yes you can turn it but not very easily, it is not like driving with non assisted steering is my point, it really requires herculean strength.
 
Not herculean, but I see your point, it would certainly take you by surprise, but on the move it's not that bad, we pushed it around the car park and it was an effort but IMO Manageable..

However, from my experience, my Orion required the same effort when the PAS Belt snapped, so it is typical of some if not all cars where the PAS failed..

Thats not to say a sudden failure wouldn't catch you out, and send you in the ditch, I could well believe that, as has obviously happened..
 
cymatty said:
Yeah it does, no engine power = no steering, that is what happened to El. :(

Or he was suddenly caught out by the lack of assistance, therefore not being able to get around the corner, its not the same as having no steering whatsoever, although I can understand the feeling.
 
-westy- said:
Or he was suddenly caught out by the lack of assistance, therefore not being able to get around the corner, its not the same as having no steering whatsoever, although I can understand the feeling.

I cant remeber how he described it we will have to wait until he comes online to re tell his story. :)
 
Don't matter if its electric or mechanical thats just the method of pushing the fluid around the system, you can still turn the wheels with the engine off its just much much harder since your pushing against the force of the pump and fluid.
 
cymatty said:
No I had agw outside the car with the bonnet open listening to where the noises where coming from whilst i turned the wheels, he said it sounded like the noise was coming from the bottom of the suspension.

What car is it? I had a similar problem with an Astra.
 
-westy- said:
Err...no, it'll just be a bit harder to steer when you're going slowly.

I had the pump fail on my 106GTi whilst I was on the move. It's not just the same as reverting to normal non-PAS. If the pump goes, when you move the wheel, not only have you got to steer unassisted, but you're pushing against the force of the hydraulic ram in the rack with next to no leverage (small diameter steering wheel.) To steer more than 10 degrees off centre takes ridiculous effort.

Cymatty: Is the car lowered, and were the droplinks you replaced 3 months ago genuine £40 Pug/Citroen ones? Non-genuine cheap droplinks have been known to fail in a matter of months if the car has been lowered - mine £6 ones did.

Another thought - could it be the balljoints on the lower arms are worn out?
 
timbob said:
Cymatty: Is the car lowered, and were the droplinks you replaced 3 months ago genuine £40 Pug/Citroen ones? Non-genuine cheap droplinks have been known to fail in a matter of months if the car has been lowered - mine £6 ones did.

Another thought - could it be the balljoints on the lower arms are worn out?

The car is not lowered and all suspension parts are original.

The droplinks were purchased from gsf a few months ago for abou £16 each iirc, I dont think it is the droplinks as this is a different noise from when the droplinks were on the blink. :)
 
I can imagine the balljoints clunking, not the rack or pump.

Ever popped a balljoint with a splitter? - bl00dy loud clunk/banging sound.
 
Firestar_3x said:
They do as the bearing starts to fail.

Ah, ok. Mine didn't that's all, perhaps it was the bushes that went at the other end of the pump. But AGW has said the noise is coming from the lower suspension rather than the PAS pump area, so it's all a much of a muchness really! :p
 
Gearstick is a real easy one, underneath you will see a rubber, grease has dried up, either a) grease it or b) spray it with penetrating oil. It won't work when the car is warm for some reason, wait until the car has cooled down, and then give it a good soaking.

Clunk clunk noise - check the cv boot hasnt come undone and grease had all gone/dried up.

/edit : both happened to mine, and both were fixed DIY :)
 
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Phil W said:
Clunk clunk noise - check the cv boot hasnt come undone and grease had all gone/dried up.

/edit : both happened to mine, and both were fixed DIY :)

I am about as DIY minded as TWfox. :p

I hope it is something as simple as that Phil. :)
 
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