Transit steering

[Alzi1967]

Update update update update

Hi ,

Ive been having a few issues with the steering on my 2001 transit for the past 2 weeks

Some days the steering is nice and light , can turn the steering wheel with say 1 finger.
sometime later it will require a heavy pull on the wheel to turn it.

next day it may start off heavy then after 10mins will go light.

I thought i'd solved it with a fluid change as the old stuff was brown and yuk , but no particles of metal in it - just burnt looking.

so anyway changed fluid - it seemed to work fine the rest of the day . then next day intermittent light then heavy.- it doesnt matter what the engine revs are and its got a a new serpentine(fan) belt on ,there are no fluid leaks anywhere on the steering rack or pipes..

After a couple of days of still intermittent heavey/light steering , I decided to stretch the pressure releif spring inside the pump apparently this should increase the delivery pressure. and for that day and the next . the steering went nice and light , just how it used to be.

Alas it didnt last..

its recently had its MOT , no play in bottom ball joints - only failed on o/s track rod end - replaced with genuine ford item.

oh yes I bought a new pump .. but it arrived like this today , i guess that aint gona work !!

Any Ideas ???? please help ...

 

[n8rbos]

hiya m8 would it be worth (if you can get one ) replacing the spring you stretched?

i'm also sure if you go to fordtransit.org one of them lads will help you out pronto...they live and breath them

tony

 

[Alzi1967]

Hmmm , there is a spring in the broken unit mmmmmm... mite try that.......

Have posted on transit forum , thanks for the suggestions.

Alan.

 

[barnybg]

Bleeder !!

A thought ??? air lock ?

Leave top off and with engine running,turn full lock to full lock ,back and forth several times,having someone check the resevoir,let us know if it done the trick !

 

[Alzi1967]

Hi, Thanks for the airlock suggestion,

Willing to try anything , and ,just to make sure , Ive just been out and done the full l/h the full r/h lock .. not made any difference -Today i have heavy steering ..

We have drained and refilled the system twice in the last couple of weeks , which included bleeding the system. following fords directions , and even read the haynes manual...

It was worth a try Thankyou ..

 

[Alzi1967]

hiya m8 would it be worth (if you can get one ) replacing the spring you stretched?

i'm also sure if you go to fordtransit.org one of them lads will help you out pronto...they live and breath them

tony

Just changed the spring and plunger for a brand new 1,

refilled with new fluid and bled the system ,again.

steering has gone light.- but for how long

Will see how it goes.

 

[jayeastanglia]

think i answered it for u on the transit forum..check the pas bottle filter at the bottom is clean and the fluid is nice and red..also another thing is your belt ok.might be worth replacing it..

 

[Alzi1967]

think i answered it for u on the transit forum..check the pas bottle filter at the bottom is clean and the fluid is nice and red..also another thing is your belt ok.might be worth replacing it..

Hi , Thanks for the suggestions.

Have been out for a drive ! - NO Improvement just changing spring and plunger.

Fluid changed again today when I tried the new spring and pliunger in the pump.thats 3 full fluid changes now so definatly Not the fluid. Im using genuine ford fluid - even though I,m assured its only dexron 3(not standard dexron 2) they resell in their own bottles.

The belt was replaced about 4 months ago , with a Gates powergrip one with 2 new pulleys and new tensioner at the same time, I mite change the belt and rule it out (can keep the old 1 as a spare anyway).argghh £29 +vat

Hopefully the second replacement pump will arrive in the morning intact and can get it on at lunchtime.

Ill post the results one theyre done .

 

[jayeastanglia]

where did you get that belt at that price!!! mine is the same belt and cost £7.85 from a motorfactors..alt belt is dearer at £24.25 as its a streachty belt..

 

[maingate]

I do not know about Ford`s but on some vans there is a bearing in the front suspension leg (McPherson strut).If it seizes or breaks, it can affect the steering and give similar symptoms to yours.

 

[Alzi1967]

I only have 1 belt ???????

aha , That could be it , 1 missing !!!!

sorry Just 1 belt does everything .

It wrom local Motor Factors - its about 6 feet long .

Is yours 2.4 RWD duaratorq?

Anyway:

Its NOT the pump - Brand new Ford item Fitted. - Gutted ....



Its NOT the Fluid- Now changed with new fluid 4 times.
Its Not belt - New 1 fitted .

So either Bottom balljoint/s
Track Rod End/s
Suspension strut Top Bearings as kindly suggested by "maingate" in previous post

Or Steering Rack ! which is most probable..... as its the most expensive ..

Next will be jack up the front , disconnect the track ro ends and see if I can find any problems with ball joints etc.

 

[Chrissy]

Ford Master

I only have 1 belt ???????

aha , That could be it , 1 missing !!!!

sorry Just 1 belt does everything .

It wrom local Motor Factors - its about 6 feet long .

Is yours 2.4 RWD duaratorq?

Anyway:

Its NOT the pump - Brand new Ford item Fitted. - Gutted ....



Its NOT the Fluid- Now changed with new fluid 4 times.
Its Not belt - New 1 fitted .

So either Bottom balljoint/s
Track Rod End/s
Suspension strut Top Bearings as kindly suggested by "maingate" in previous post

Or Steering Rack ! which is most probable..... as its the most expensive ..

Next will be jack up the front , disconnect the track ro ends and see if I can find any problems with ball joints etc.

No pressure for hubby Steve (MrChrissy) when I say now that I will get him to have a look at this thread as he used to work for Ford as a Master Technician I probably got that a bit wrong slightly.

Anyway's, I'll get him to have a look at the thread this teatime and see if he can come with anything to help you.

Hope we can help
Chrissy

 

[mrchrissy]

transit steering

if you chainge the steering pump & if the problem still remains it could be down toa presure regulator valve in the rack its self .you may be able to get the valve from your local ford deler .if not then a reconditioned rack may be the only other sulution

 

[Hirohito]

Transit Steering.

Just an aside lads, I live & breathe the old 91 Transit & there ain't no power steering there !

 

[jayeastanglia]

mines a FWD 2 litre 280 turbo diesel..they have 2 belts 1 on the offside which drives alternator and tensioner and air con and a seperate belt on the gearbox end driven by camshaft which drives the pas and water pump..
2.4 RWD have 1 belt which drives everything..does the heating work ok??if not check the pump splines for wear or signs of slipping.
I know you say new fluid but have you cleaned out the pas filler bottle as there is a fine gauze filter in the bottom..

 

[n8rbos]

alzi don't know whether this sounds the same???
Out of the blue, my Convoy steering goes stiff and fails to return from a lock. Re-greasing and rocking the steering side to side didn't cure it. The top part of the offside pin was dry.
Thinking we may have a blocked grease nipple, we removed it only to what we didn't want to see... fresh grease.

Next step was to remove the nipple, retaining surclip and cap, load the exposed void with brake fluid and allow it to stand for a couple of hours to penetrate. A couple of days of light use in this disassembled state saw the steering return to normal.

Refitted the parts and charged with new grease, the steering is once again 100%, Not a text book approach I know but it had the desired result.
_________________
16 seat School Minibus Service

not my work that goes to the chap above off the ldv forum

 

[jayeastanglia]

ldv convoy has a beam axle on the front transit of this year has independant front axle...but still might be a idea to check the bottom balljoints..

 

[Boxerman]

I do not know about Ford`s but on some vans there is a bearing in the front suspension leg (McPherson strut).If it seizes or breaks, it can affect the steering and give similar symptoms to yours.

I don't have a Transit but I have a Boxer which has McPherson struts. The top bearing on one of them semi-seized (rust) causing the steering to stiffen up and "groan" at times.
Must admit it took me a while to find the problem as everything else was OK.
You've checked everything else - surely this is worth a look?

Frank

 

[Alzi1967]

Hi , A big thankyou to everyone who has replied so far.

I have been away for a few days down to kent 700+ miles round trip , As expected throughout the journey , The steering has been a mix of light and heavy.

Fortunatly this didnt realy affect me on this trip as it was pretty much motorway all the way there and back , however planning Uist/harris and applecross later in the year and dont fancy any steering issues on these single track roads .

Whilst away I came accross a surplus stock reconditioned mk 6 transit steering rack for sale for a very reasonable £60 - so it was purchased.

as this was a bargain im in a position to be able to replace the bottom balljoints , just to eliminate them.

This hopefully will get fitted this next week.

If all this fails then it would realy only leave the top bearings.

So will see how it goes .....

 

[Boxerman]

Don't forget to let us know the outcome, we're all wondering what the problem is.

Frank