Forum:
Hi went out through the Floods today about 18†deep, good fun in the old f78 but noticed that the steering felt very stiff and jerky a few times when putting lock on, almost as if the “rack†kept sticking, can remember this happening once or twice on my Terrano and Land Cruiser, so what damage can I do playing in the floods? Can the steering rack get water in it? And if it dose, what’s the remedy, pump some Grease in?
Tighten the power steering pump belt ... PRONTO
What you have is the power steering pump belt slipping due to being loose and wet.
When you turn the steering wheel, the pump goes on load and requires extra torque from the engine. If the belt isn't up to it, it slips and you temporarily loose all power assistance.
I speak from experience after hammering through a flooded road and then trying to go round a 90 left a bit sharpish. The loss of power steering was unexpected and caused the brown trouser effect as I headed towards the ditch !
Fortunately, a huge handful of brute force and ignorance wrenched the vehicle around the corner to avert disaster.
Power steering pump belt slipping
Thanks mate, why didn’t I think of that! Will have a look and check, any one know how tight it should be?
steering pump bracket
check ur steering pump bracket they have a tendancy to come loose on the engine making the belt slacken
The usual half inch of deflection under thumb pressure.
.... just like a fan belt.
The main pump fixing holes tend to wear oval after a long time, making the adjustment of the pump belt tension a bit of a pig, unfortunately.