[steve]

Hi!

we have just put a 1.6 power steering box in the X90, the pump is standard 2LV6 one attached to the motor.

When the engine is running, you try turn, if you turn very slowly it turns smooth enough, but if you try to turn fast it seems to very hard to start the turn but once it's moving it's smooth again. It seems to only be hard to turn right.

Also there is lots of air bubbles in the fluid, and it keeps overflowing out the top of the resovior when you turn, and stops over flowing when you stop turning.

and the pump is noisy when under pressure.

any ideas?

Would there be a air pocket in the line maybe? ... or would the pump be stuffed?

[stockman]

Did you bleed the system?
When I use to fit new steering racks I would cycle it left to right 20 or so times, and then top up the fluid accordingly. Not sure if this was the correct procedure, but to forman told me to do it.

[Rusho]

This could be a stupid idea but is the pump volume to big for the box??

[89_tintop]

sounds like an air pocket in the system..
when you blead the system did you do it with the wheels off the ground?
i find if you jack the front end up on some vehicles it is alot easier to bleed properly.

as stockman said.. lock to lock .. sometimes it only takes a few turns and other times it take heaps

[ajsr]

mine does the same steve.
Ive bleed it checked everything, cant find anything. mind you mines turning 34's

[royce]

yeah wheels off the ground and turn side to side (not full lock!!!) at idle till the level stops dropping

fwiw of a morning when I reverse out and turn its harder to get the wheel to turn than keep it turning, sounds like the same thing, I spew a lot of oil out the top too

unless we both have the lines on the box wrong, though I dont think they wil go either way

[skyman]

seeing the air does seem to point to an air pocket, or a loose line maybe?

If the box was adjusted, and they have done it up too tight it will be hard to turn at certain spots as well.

I adjust the box with the tires off the ground, if I feel a "hard spot" anywhere in the travel, I back the adjustment out a bit.

Ajsr, Do you have a steering cooler on yours, an d Steve does yours do it from the git, or only when it is warm?

[matty87]

royce wrote:

yeah wheels off the ground and turn side to side (not full lock!!!) at idle till the level stops dropping

fwiw of a morning when I reverse out and turn its harder to get the wheel to turn than keep it turning, sounds like the same thing, I spew a lot of oil out the top too

unless we both have the lines on the box wrong, though I dont think they wil go either way

if you put the lines on the box the wrong way you will get the wheels to turn to lock and then wont be able to get them back to center as you will be fighting the hydraulic pressure.

[steve]

I pulled the pump apart and compared it to a 1.6 vitara pump, i thought maybe it was broken and wasn't pumping enough.

I noticed there is a difference between a few bits. The V6 valve jet thingy only has one hole in it on one side, and the 1.6 valve jet thingy has four holes evenly around it.

I swapped the 1.6 valve jet thingy in to the V6 pump but used the V6 hose fitting (bit that holds the valve in). Then tried the steering again, it still was a bit noisy and still had air in the fluid.

I then swapped in the 1.6 hose fitting and now there's no noise at all from the pump and there's no air in the fluid!

It's still hard to turn initially, i can only test it in the driveway. I guess this could mean the pump isn't big enough for the box?

Would anyone know the flow rate of both punps? I can't fit the 1.6 pump on because there's no room.

[11_evl]

http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/p ... ering.html

i cant quite see but that valve, can it be opened similar to the one in my link, try mod it similar if possible..

but be very carful, do little changes starting from small shims as they DO over pressure and explode

[slyvan1]

with the lines being on the wrong way, would the power steering still work? mine doesn't seem to want to return to centre and gets really hot even at idle. if you turn the wheel a slight bit you can hear it load up.

[steve]

Thanks for the link 11_evl, i'll investigate further.

Slyvan1, i don't think you could accidently put the hoses on the wrong way around?

Does anyone know if the V6 powersteering box is different to the 1.6? Would the V6 steering box fit a 1.6 vitara chassis?

[rick1970]

Air leak in the sucton hose.
Suction hose too small or too long.
Sucking in air from the shaft seal in the pump (won't always cause an oil leak).




Better at idle? Worse with a few revs on board?

[steve]

rick1970 wrote:

Air leak in the sucton hose.
Suction hose too small or too long.
Sucking in air from the shaft seal in the pump (won't always cause an oil leak).
Better at idle? Worse with a few revs on board?

yeah it's possible that the inlet/suction hose fitting is too small not letting enough fluid in.

It doesn't seem to make a difference between revs, same issues.

[rick1970]

The hard to turn one way issue would seem to point to the box over the pump. In reality the pump dosn't know which way your turning the wheel.

Noise.......could well be air in the system, or just the relief going off because of increased line pressure from a problem in the box or a mechanical bind somwhere (king pins, rod end etc).

With front wheels off the ground, is the problem the same? Still hard to turn one way with engine off?

[steve]

When the wheels are in the air it's fine, when on the ground it's hard to trun right.

Haven't tried with the engine off. I might try that with the wheels in the air?

Talked to a couple people today, one fella suggested if it turns fine in the air and not on the ground it might be the pump but everyone seems pretty confused

I'm getting another pump and box to try this weekend, i'll change the pump first as that's the easiest thing to do.

[rick1970]

Also try turning the wheels by hand (with the trye) when their off the ground, and feel for anything unusual.

Hard to turn the wheel fast (but ok slow) would sugest a low oil flow output from pump (shit in relief valve, oil flow control orifice, fooked pump etc). But you would expect it to be the same in both directions.

good luck

[steve]

fixed

i think.

i just put a new pump on. I'm still confused though

[steak_knife]

steve wrote:

fixed

i think.

i just put a new pump on. I'm still confused though

I think that come's with the name mate....