2000 V70XC Stiff Power Steering

[llh]

Hi,

I have a 2000 V70XC with nearly 450k on her. When I first got the car two years ago, the steering was light enough similar to a new vehicle. Over time it has become stiffer. I used to be able to effortlessly steer with one finger but that's no longer the case. I've changed the fluid to no avail, and I am swapping the reservoir soon with an 05+ version that doesn't leak.

The steering is lighter (but not the way it was) when it is colder e.g. winter, and much noticeably stiffer during the warmer months - it is also stiffens up once the car is warm it seems. According to the PO, it does not have the original rack and is from something earlier - he said it had a sportier feel to it. Right now there is ATF in it. I was reading that the pumps rarely go on these, so I'm trying to figure out what else it could be.

Thanks in advance,

llh

[npexcept]

Does it make any noise/sound when steering?
After steering a few times from most left to most right, do you see any bubbles in your reservoir?

Servo pumps last ages if taken care of properly.

With the oil heating up, it changes its viscosity.
A less viscous fluid may pass some seals.
My guess is the steering rack. You can try running it with a slightly thicker oil. But this is not a fix.

different oils change the feeling of the steering, so maybe thats what your mechanic meant.

servo.jpg (58.57 KiB) Viewed 374 times

[scot850]

Have you had your suspension alignment checked to make sure it is not worn suspension parts causing drag on the system? Are your tires showing more wear on the inside? If so then the toes may be pointing outward causing the steering to be heavier.

Have you done the simple thing of checking the tire pressures? I run mine higher than suggested as at our altitude I found the tires wore on the outsides and not the insides. I run them at 36 psi. Do you change the tire pressure for winter? Again here we can get the tire pressures dropping 4 or more psi in the winter.

Although the rack was from an older car, the pump was not. The later cars were run on a different power steering fluid we know as Pentosin, and not ATF. They are not compatible. What a 'hybrid' system is run best with I don't know.

Neil.

[850 LPT]

There is a so called steering coupler which connects the steering shaft to the rack. These couplers can seize up and make steering very hard. I had to replace them on 2 of our Volvo's already.

That's the first thing I would look at before going crazy with the rack or pump.

[befarrer]

I bet it would be the pump. There has to be a pressure relief in it and either that is releasing pressure too early, or the pump can't put out pressure. If steering input with the engine off is about the same as a car with good steering, I bet the rack is not binding. You can also jack the front wheels off the ground to see if the rack is binding by turning the steering with the engine off.

[scot850]

All good suggestions, and most can be done easily with a jack and axle stands. Then there is the bearing at the bottom of the shaft that can dry out as well as the coupler. Again this is a bit of a pain to grease, so PB Blaster on the coupler and some grease on the bearing at the floor and see if that helps.

Neil.