Stiff Steering

Nrugor

Hey all, a roundabout jumped out into the middle of the road the other day and my wife collided with it.

I replaced the lower arm and both inner and outer steering links, then had the wheel alignment sorted. The car drives fine at low speed (<5mph) and the steering is nice and light. However, anything more and the steering is super stiff - it's nearly to the point it's locked up. Slowing down and the steering returns to normal.

Electric steering pump, doesn't seem affected my RPM. Any suggestions on things to check would be appreciated from those in the know.
Thanks!

AdrianC

The obvious cause would be damage to the rack itself.

Even if the EPS weren't working, it wouldn't be "super stiff nearly to the point it's locked up".

Nrugor

AdrianC said:

The obvious cause would be damage to the rack itself.

Even if the EPS weren't working, it wouldn't be "super stiff nearly to the point it's locked up".

I had though as much, but I can't think what component of the rack would cause it to go stiff when rolling and perfectly fine when stationery?

AdrianC

I've just remembered... I had a knackered outer CV in a driveshaft do that to me one time.

Nrugor

AdrianC said:

I've just remembered... I had a knackered outer CV in a driveshaft do that to me one time.

That's a top idea. I'll jack the car up and have a spin of the wheel at full lock. See if I can hear/feel anything. 

AdrianC

Nrugor said:

AdrianC said:

I've just remembered... I had a knackered outer CV in a driveshaft do that to me one time.

That's a top idea. I'll jack the car up and have a spin of the wheel at full lock. See if I can hear/feel anything. 

Which wheel hit the kerb...? That's the CV that got damaged.

sevenhills

Nrugor said:

The car drives fine at low speed (<5mph) and the steering is nice and light. However, anything more and the steering is super stiff - it's nearly to the point it's locked up. Slowing down and the steering returns to normal.
Electric steering pump, doesn't seem affected my RPM.

Sounds more like the steering pump to me.

clive0510

without knowing what car it is, or any other details its difficult to say. needs to go on a ramp and have all suspension and steering checked. thats what should of happened in the first place.

AdrianC

sevenhills said:

Nrugor said:

The car drives fine at low speed (<5mph) and the steering is nice and light. However, anything more and the steering is super stiff - it's nearly to the point it's locked up. Slowing down and the steering returns to normal.
Electric steering pump, doesn't seem affected my RPM.

Sounds more like the steering pump to me.

It's EPS. It doesn't have one.

Nrugor

clive0510 said:

without knowing what car it is, or any other details its difficult to say. needs to go on a ramp and have all suspension and steering checked. thats what should of happened in the first place.

It's a 16'plate Astra (K). OS wheel collided face on into kerb due to skidding on ice. I don't need a ramp to check those components, I'm capable of doing all but the tracking on the driveway.

Weather has been awful the last day or two. I'll certainly check the joint when I get the opportunity. 

Nrugor

This took a lot.. I replaced the lower arm, inner and outer tie rods, shock absorber, hub upright.... and last but not least, the steering rack.

The stiff steering was down to the rack, as almost everyone else probably thought.