Notchy steering and squeal

[RumHam26]

For the past few years I have had notchy steering in the winter - it feels like the power steering is having trouble getting the power it needs to turn the wheels. This used to only happen during tight slow turns.

It has gotten worse this season, and is now sometimes accompanied by a squealing noise. I also feel a slight rubbing in the steering wheel on left turns.

Lbjs and OTREs are new. I have also flushed the fluid and cleaned the screen in the reservoir. The belt is not that old (but I plan to replace anyway) and seems plenty tight - which I know is often the cause of squealing.

Is there anything else I can do to try to pinpoint the problem? Any joints on the steering shaft that might need lubrication?

Final thought - several times after going through a car wash, I have had brief loss of power steering and brief loss of the fan. Obviously this has something to do with the belts getting wet, but I also have the feeling that this isn't quite normal. Can other worn, slipping, or loose belts in the drive system cause power steering symptoms, or would the power steering belt be the most likely culprit? Thanks!

 

[Spktyr]

Slipping belts or belts with insufficient tension can cause this, yes. So can a worn-out pump - when cold, it's harder to pump hydraulic fluids of the type used in power steering systems.

 

[Jungoes]

I have noticed this as well. But my case was different. I had a small leak on the rack, added some oil treatment to the PS fluid in summer . leaks went away as the seals seemed to swell a bit and stopped the leak. The belt would squeal as well and I noticed the hard spots when turning to full left or right only on cold days.
I flushed the fluid and replaced with all new fluid, tightened the belt and no more issues. I may have to change the rack eventually but i added the treatment to get some more life out of it.

 

[RumHam26]

Today I changed the belt and the problem is gone - at least for now. For anyone else experiencing this problem - the notchiness in the steering was not always accompanied by a squealing sound. This had been going on for a few years but only in the winter, and has gotten progressively worse. Also - my belt was not that old, and it looked fine when I took it off. My truck had always squealed at full lock - now that is also gone. I wonder if a couple years of a loose belt slipping at full lock wore the belt out prematurely.

 

[jgue467]

My truck had always squealed at full lock - now that is also gone. I wonder if a couple years of a loose belt slipping at full lock wore the belt out prematurely.

Why 'full lock' it???? I avoid that at all costs, it puts Too much strain on the whole system, hence the squeeling! :cowboy:

 

[RumHam26]

@%1;

Why 'full lock' it???? I avoid that at all costs, it puts Too much strain on the whole system, hence the squeeling! :cowboy:

Yeah that never occurred to me really until I started learning more about how cars works. I only really 'full locked' while parallel parking or some. Other very tight situations. Oh and of course at highways speeds trying to do flips and stuff

 

[phattyduck]

I only really 'full locked' while parallel parking or some.

Even then, you should just hit full lock, then back off a tiny bit.

What you are hearing at full lock causes the PS pump to work at max pressure. Its not an immediate harm thing, there is just no reason to overwork it when you don't have to.

Regular slipping of the belt will glaze it over and keep it from having enough friction to work correctly without over-tensioning the belt. Run it at the right tension from the beginning and it last the longest.

-Charlie

 

[RumHam26]

Even then, you should just hit full lock, then back off a tiny bit.

What you are hearing at full lock causes the PS pump to work at max pressure. Its not an immediate harm thing, there is just no reason to overwork it when you don't have to.

Regular slipping of the belt will glaze it over and keep it from having enough friction to work correctly without over-tensioning the belt. Run it at the right tension from the beginning and it last the longest.

-Charlie

I never hit full for any prolonged period, I think the belt was installed loose to begin with. But thanks for the tip