[bombfactory]

Hi guys, I ran through the archives but couldn't find exactly the problem I'm experiencing. Since I bought my car earlier this year - '94 coupe, 120K miles now - I've been disappointed with the steering. I've replaced the front swaybar bushings, caster blocks and tie rod ends, and am currently replacing the fluid with the turkey baster method - I've done two cycles so far.



Here's the deal: On cold startup pulling out of the driveway, the steering feels fully boosted. I can steer with one hand. But after warmup, out on the road around town, the steering becomes very heavy, like I've got no power steering at all. It takes major effort to turn corners at low to medium speeds. I initially thought this was a suspension issue - understeer - but there's no way any Porsche would steer and handle like this if everything were working correctly.



My steering shaft has developed play in the lower u-joint - probably due to the added stress from the missing steering boost (Note: I've learned the 968 steering shaft is not the same as the 944 unit, and is NLA from Porsche. Fortunately I was able to find a low mileage used one from a dismantler).



So, do you think my rack is toast? What else could it be?



Thanks for any advice!



-Austin

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[flash]

sounds like weak pump seals

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[bombfactory]

There is some 'sweating' of fluid going on around the reservoir, but I haven't checked out the pump or pressure hose areas yet. Thanks Flash.



-Austin



PS - Been driving around with the 997 shift knob for a couple weeks now. It's great to look at and touch but the actual process and feel of changing gears is really noisy, clanky and awful - I'll be switching back. What a waste of time and money.

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[flash]

no worries - not sure if that's it, but if any of the seals are shot, you'll lose pressure and lose the pump input, resulting in a heavy feel



bummer about the knob, after all the headache you went through

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[aslet]

You also have the right fluid?

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[bombfactory]

Flash - If the pump seals are going bad, would there be ps fluid all over the place? In other words, would it leak externally or internally? I still need to get in there with a flashlight and check things out.



I'm using Pennsoil Dextron 4 (I think it's 4) for the fluid replace project. No change in steering feel after 2 cycles - will keep doing it until my 2 new quarts are used up. I have no idea how old or new the fluid that's in there is, but this can't hurt right?



-Austin

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[flash]

not necessarily - it could be just the pump seal, in which case, fluid would just go back and forth, rather like it would on a master cylinder seal, and there was no tear in the boot

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[DaveN]

Another problem could be broken pump vanes; I have had this but not on a P-car. Cold oil is ok but once it warms up then you loose pressure and the steering becomes stiff.

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[bombfactory]

Yes that could be it too, Dave, thanks. I thought it was curious that the steering seems boosted normally when the system is cold, then when the car is warm it steers like a Kenworth. This, along with my much-too-heavy clutch pedal, makes the car not much fun to drive at all. Must be patient - all will be fixed in time...



Flash, is (are) the pump seal(s) fairly easily serviceable? Just noticed rebuilt ps pumps are NLA at Pelican.



-Austin

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[Ryan]

I got a seal kit from Sunset that had to be ordered from Germany. The kit was cheap, but that won't help if the vanes are broken. Not sure about that as far as parts go. There was a DIY on line somewhere for the seal replacement as I recall. It has been awhile.

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