mcerd1
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 10:30 AM |
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OT - Tin-top steering problem (again!)
(alternative title: Does anyone want to buy a cheap focus?)
I'm starting to get sick of this car 
Its now developed a new problem where the steering gets a bit stuck when you've been driving in a strait line for a minute or so... it kind of
feels like its stuck in a notch?
but once you've free'd it off its fine untill you drive in a strait line again.
but I can't find anything obviously wrong anywhere....
its a bog std. 2001 focus hatch and due to other issues its already had new front shocks, arms, top bearings, drop links, track rod ends, steering
rack and pump - any ideas before I push it off a cliff ?
cheers
-Robert
[Edited on 8/8/2011 by mcerd1]
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bartonp
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 10:43 AM |
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Steering column (U/Js etc)?
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mcerd1
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 10:46 AM |
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^^ can't see / feel any problems there...
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 10:56 AM |
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I've seen a Ford Ka that had this problem and it was one of the bearings in the lower steering column UJ that had broken up internally and
partially seized. Moving it around would sometimes free it off it for a while but it would quickly seize up again.
The UJ was part of the column in that case and not individually replaceable - I suspect the Focus may be similar.
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spiderman
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 11:10 AM |
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Fiesta had same problem with u/j drying out. I sprayed some wd40 on it which worked for a while and then changed u/j problem sorted.
Spider
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britishtrident
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 11:28 AM |
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Yep the UJs --- can give a lumpy feel to the steering..
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owelly
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 02:51 PM |
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Another vote for column u/j.
I had the same problem with my Bongo steering and local garage diagnosed a faulty power steering pump and/or rack and quoted £1200 to fix it. I
mentioned it to a mate who recalled a Focus taxi that had a new rack and pump fitted before the column u/js were checked. I was dubious because it
didn't feel like a column fault but a couple of squirts of WD40 and it was fixed.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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mcerd1
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 03:25 PM |
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sounds like I'd better have another look at the column then - I'll report back later....
its already had a recon pump & 2 racks (all because of leaks not this fault) so I really don't wan't to do another one 
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 8/8/11 at 04:37 PM |
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I feel your pain. Just put my Fiat Coupe in for an MOT and it failed due to the steering rack boots being completely rotten and peeing out oil. I
fitted this as a reconditioned rack just before the last MOT.
Oddly enough the rack I fitted to my Civic from the same company suffered the same issues with the boots falling apart, and I have since learned that
a friend has had two pug 205 racks from the same place that leaked. I won't be using Kelly Bray Steering again.
[Edited on 8/8/11 by MikeRJ]
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