Power steering can go wrong in a number of ways. There can be a small leak of fluid, or the electronic control unit can fail. To ask the right questions and to know what to expect from a repair it is useful to know what each of the repairs involve.
Rack and Pinion Replacement
In some cases the rack and pinion will need to be completely replaced, especially if there are any internal leaks. The track rods will need to be removed from the new rack and once it has been dropped into place the wheel alignment will need to be reset.
Pump Rebuilding or Replacement
Some Hydraulic Power Steering systems have a separate Pump which can sometimes need repairing. It may develop symptoms of a Whine, Low Power Steering Assist, Leaks from seals around the Pump. g. by replacing Seals & Bearings) or he may decide that the Pump has worn too much in the Housing & therefore it would be better to fit a complete new Remanufactured Unit. For power steering specialists, see https://westernpowersteering.co.uk/.
Hydraulic Fluid Flush and Line Repair
Stagnant fluid is notorious for causing damage to steering components, and old, stale fluid can leak from the seals causing messy stains on the garage floor. When carrying out a Hydraulic Flush, we start by emptying the reservoir of the old fluid, we then circulate a superior quality hydraulic fluid, through the entire power steering system, and then ‘bleed’ the system to remove any air that may have entered during the flushing process. In addition, any damaged or cracked Hydraulic Lines will be cut back and re-flared or replaced as required.
Electronic Control Unit and Sensor Replacement
Electric power steering systems use a Torque Sensor and Power Steering Control Unit (PSCU) to determine the amount of assistance required to turn a steering wheel. The steering weight can vary from lock to lock if the Torque Sensor fails. The faulty component would need to be read for fault codes, then replaced and programmed to the vehicle.
Belt and Pulley Work
The belt on a hydraulic power steering system runs around a pulley attached to the pump. This belt can slip or wear, reducing power steering assist. In this case, the belt can be replaced and the pulley inspected for wobble or for wear on bearings.
System Bleeding and Calibration
After any power steering repair it is normal for the system to need to be ‘bled’ of air and for any electric power steering system to be ‘re-calibrated’ after repair. This is to enable the Electronic Control Unit to ‘learn’ the new Steering Centre Point after repair.
Getting a repair done right the first time is more cost effective than a return visit.
