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Puzzled! - Hard power steering when accelerating.

5578 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  GeCJ7
This problem just gradually started to happen over a 6 month period. The power steering works fine at constant speed and decelerating.
Only when I accelerate around a turn, left or right does the power steering become very hard to turn.

I have replaced the Power Steering gear box about 7 years ago. Purged and replaced all the power steering fluid. New tie Rods. New steering shaft from Borgasion.
Tires are 35'' MT @ 25 psi. I tried increasing the tire pressure but only little improvement. No play in the steering on the hi-way.

I do noticed that the power steering fluid has a burnt smell and was very cloudy before I replaced it. Know with the new fluid it still has a burnt smell.
I also notice what looks like very small shiny metal flakes flowing with the fluid. I have lifted the front tires off the ground and hand turned the tires and all seems to work well with low resistance.

I'll I can think of is the power steering pump is going out. It has never been replace since I bought the CJ 92.
Can a bad power steering pump have this type of symptom?

Thanks,

84 CJ 7, 258 Six, 4.56 gears, AMC 20 rear w/ Mosler axle / open, Dana 30 front / open, 4:1 Dana 300 Tera Low 4:1, T-5, 4.5" R.E. lift, 1'' body lift, 35" Pro Comp X Terrains on Alcoa 8x15 Alum wheels, TR ford Distributor cap & rotor, Crane HI-6R CD ignition. BeCool aluminum radiator

Ge
1 - 1 of 9 Posts
Burnt smell. Very small shiny metal flakes.

Both are completely foreign to a power steering system. Something is shot, probably the pump. Even if it's not what's causing your problem, it has to be corrected.

Somebody more familiar with power steering can maybe give a better answer about the problem and what you must do to fix it. By now the metal flakes might have damaged the valve in the steering box.
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