MX-5 OC Forum

My 5's steering seems to have gotten pretty heavy lately, especially noticeable during low speed manouvers, the steering wheel also doesn't "self centre" very well, all resulting in a rather treacle-y feel.

It is constantly like this, and especially noticeable after driving other cars with PS, my gf has a BINI with quite heavy PS, but mine is still a lot heavier and feels a bit dead.

-Tyres are toyo proxes (good tread,only 6 months old) 28psi all round.

-No untoward noises from PS pump

-No sound of PS belt slipping

-PS fluid level looks fine, no noticeable leaks

The car hasn't had 4 wheel geo, but will be getting it in a month or so when I have coilovers fitted...so apart from bad alignment, what else could cause this heavy steering feel?

Cheers

I would check the PS belt is  tight enough, it may not make noise when slipping.

It is possible one of your front balljoints is dry and stiff, very much worth checking as the loss of self centering is very much a symptom of this and can be a pre-cursor of balljoint failure.

Dr. Eunos

PS belt is fine tension wise.

Is there a way to check the balljoints without jacking the car up?

Not really but if you have an MOT testing garage nearby and explain to them what the symptoms are, am sure they will do a check of the front suspension for you. The stiffness and lack of self-centering were the only symptom on my V-Spec and only lasted for a few days before this happened......(Click)

well, as luck happens (good or bad?) my  MOT is on tuesday...is this the sort of thing that would be picked up?

Maybe worth mentioning it to them beforehand so they can take a look whilst it's being MOT'd?

It is not the sort of thing that is always noticed on MOT test- play in balljoints, yes but stiffness in the steering ? not really as usually the tester will have an assistant who will spin the wheel from full-lock to full -lock whilst the front end is free-hanging and may well not notice.

Personally I would mention the stiffness and lack of self centering in the steering and ask them to pay particular attention to the lower balljoints

Please let us know what is found after?

Dr. Eunos

cool, will do...hoping it's nothing too costly/serious!

Been reading up on alignment and i see caster is directly related to steering weight and self centering...can caster angle get "knocked out"? or is it a permanently set value unless adjusted...

 We had exactly the same symptoms on a Mx-3. It turned out to be the PS pump not putting out enough pressure

Designforlife:

.can caster angle get "knocked out"? or is it a permanently set value unless adjusted...

Is the steering overly heavy when stationary? (I know I know, but every now and then is fine...)

If so, it's more likely pump or linkages. If it's only a problem on the move, then probably geometry.

taff eunos:

this happened......(Click)

Ouch! The exact same thing happened to my old Spitfire (I seem to remember that was a trunion though) - I was on a single track lane and the AA man arrived at the wrong end of the car....it took him an hour to reverse back half a mile, go around the block, then reverse up the mile or so from the other end of the lane. I was quite red-faced...

It's pretty bad when stationary/low speed, it becomes less noticeable at speed but steering still feels a bit dead and won't centre very well.

Aside from a "wrong" noise is there any way of diagnosing the pump?

You'd need to get the hydraulic pressure checked...a mechanic job unless you have the kit.

Double check the belt's not slipping though...a dab of tippex on the belt and pulley, start her up and move the steering, then turn her off and see if it's moved.

edit: corrected own stupidity

Cool, well I'll see if the MOT on tuesday yields anything wrong with the ball joints/linkages...and if not down the garage again for an exploratory session...

Not content without knowing what the problem is, I just marked the pulley and belt with a permanent marker...

During a (very small amount of) dry steering i could hear a noise from the pump, like someone rubbing two balloons together.

Checked my mark and the pulley and belt marks were about 2" apart...so I guess that means the belt is slipping? Tension seems fine though, which is puzzling.