Steering Rack Binding Up?

[SS8_Gohan]

hi all

did an advanced driving course the other day, and one of the exercises was a mini motorkhana. Now, i've noticed the same issue when i did a skid-pan day and this time luckily i had a pro there to diagnose the problem for me. Basically, when i start getting into the real twisty stuff (tight slalom) it feels like the steering wheel is getting "stuck" and it's not smooth at all to turn from side-to-side.

Just for shits and giggles, i threw the keys to the the instructor for the motorkhana section, just to see what he could do in my car and when he returned he had experienced the same thing. He said he was fighting the steering through the tight bits and just said it was "the steering rack binding up under the heat"?? i have no idea what he was talking about, but the dude has won a few motorkhana's so i wasn't one to argue. He said it was normal for a road car...

i'm thinking it's not really that normal and there must be something i can do about it, especially with so many skylines doing motorkhana's, etc. I've never heard of an after-market steering rack but i'm thinking maybe some top-notch power steering fluid might help??? I don't know if it's ever been changed, and i don't know how often to change it really...

so yeah, glad in a way that it's not something major (well at least i don't think it is), but my goodness is it a horribly feeling and if i'm doing more track days or DECA's etc... i can't have the problem continuing. So if anyone knows about this 'rack binding' issue, any tips to how to prevent it would be awesome!!

cheers,

daniel

[1400r]

fitting a bigger power steering cooler core (or one at all ) is meant to help with binding

however the binding Ive heard about and experienced in s13's is at fulllock with steering rack spacers fitted

maybe get your rack checked out to make sure its not just stuffed

[SS8_Gohan]

worst case, a new steering rack... are we talking big $$??

can any place check out a steering rack, or is it something quite specialised?

power steering cooler core $$??

[Rekin]

try a $14 Pedders Suspension & Steering check.

Tell them about the binding issue, and they will take note of it during their testing.

http://www.pedders.com.au/products/54

[MrStabby]

but i'm thinking maybe some top-notch power steering fluid might help??? I don't know if it's ever been changed, and i don't know how often to change it really...

Changing the fluid sounds like a good plan, especially since it might be quite old. Synthetic ATF will perform much better at higher temps so try that. It is exxy, but you'll probably never need to change it again. I'm using Castrol Transmax Z. Next step after that would be a cooler i guess.

[Duncan]

changing psf is easy. open one of the hoses down low (engine off) and it pisses all over the floor. replace hose, refil resoviour . start the car and turn the rack from side to side a couple of times. done

Not sure about the binding though

[Trust33]

mine binds sometimes just after startup. the belt slips, when i turn the steering wheel, and the pump momentarily stops pumping. well i guess that thats the problem.

[dead32]

i experienced binding issue's when i changed my cefiro from hicas to non hicas + fitted s13 steering rack, solution was fitting a powersteer/trans cooler, got rid of the binding and also made the steering lighter due to the oil not boiling. as part of the hicas remooval i blocked off the rear high presure line at the pump so it raised the p/s tempreture's substancialy..... also just a thought make sure none of your metal lines are kinked, could cause excesive heat and or binding...

p.s got pwr cooler from repco,think bout $80 trade...

[BHDave]

You're better off keeping the rear stage and running the cooler off it rather than blocking it up.

[dead32]

yea but i didnt wana put the low presure cooler onto the highpresure line's of the hicas, hence i ran mine off the low presure return.

[1400r]

or remove the rear fan blades so your pump doesnt end up dieing in the near future

[Boss-zilla]

i got a r33 auto trans cooler for mine and once i get time to remove the hicas it will go on.

cheap and easy fix.

[DaGr81]

maybe i got some power steering problems too, just recently it started to whine on start up and then whine when turning left or right (loud whining) unbearable so im not driving her until someone figures out what it is....

[STATUS]

has it got fluid

best fix is to fit a cooler (about 100 in parts all up) as it cools for one and increases the fluid capacity.

[SS8_Gohan]

ah $100, that sounds good. Any recommended brands/models??

I was thinking of replacing fluid to something like a Redline ATF.... is there anything you specifically use on your/customer cars Trent?

[SS8_Gohan]

flushed and filled power steering fluid with Transmax Z, seemed to fix my binding issues on a 30+ degree track day at Sandown. Fluid was black as anything when drained, looked horrible