Quick question about power steering force
 

N62. 148k.

The pump is not noisy and I recently replaced the reservoir and hoses due to leakage. I used a synthetic ATF and have changed the fluid only once since the replacement. Fluid is still a bit darker than new fluid. No problem with steering before replacement, just got rid of the leak and the reservoir was original.

Steering got really heavy while turning. Even while driving at speed. It feels like it "seats itself" at center when turning back from changing lanes, etc.

Do I just have some old fluid that needs flushed out or can/do the pumps go bad without groaning? This will be the first p/s pump I would ever had to replace after owning many bimmers. But, this is my first V8.

Thoughts? :dunno:

Did you maybe unplug the wire for the servotronic ?

Are you sure it was ATF in the reservoir and not Pentosin CHF? The fluids are NOT compatible.

I'll double check, although I honestly don't know where to look. I'll search for that location and check back.

Thanks for the tip!

I double checked that my particular system is running ATF and not the hydraulic fluid. And to back up my choice, the fluid was red like ATF and the cap said ATF.

Thanks for checkin' on me!

Just checked and it appears that I do not have that option. The plug is hanging there all bundled up with the plug being capped. Now I know what that thing is!:thumbup:

Maybe there is some kind of restriction in the hose or filter canister? Is there any fluid disappearing? Speaking of restriction, I was just doing some work on mine a couple of days ago and noticed that there is some kind of restrictor or valve clamped in to the middle of the hose leading to the reservoir.

Reservoir and hoses are new. No leaks. This is why I tackled it in the first place. Hoses were swollen and leaking at the base of the reservoir.

I'll run out and take a look at mine to see if there is that clamp.

Nope. No clamp. Hoses go into the radiator and the rack. That's it.

Curious of what you got going on there.....

Restrictors in power steering lines are not that uncommon. My point about the reservoir and hoses was that you might have installed the problem when you changed them. New doesn't mean that they are not the problem and probably number one suspect since the problem came up exactly when you installed them.

Back in the day I used to sometimes make up my own power steering hoses and I remember one in a Buick that ended up being noisy when I was done and had to take the restrictor out of the old hose and install it in the new one to make it quiet! I'll usually take the time to figure out why something works the way it does but on that one I had spent so many hours trying to figure it out and refusing to admit that the restrictor could be the problem that when I finally got it fixed I couldn't get it out the door fast enough!

That is sound advice. I take it for granted that when I install a new part it is problem free. This, as you say, may not always be the case!

I'll be taking a look at it soon and report back.

Once again, I have solved my own problem due to lack of diligence.

I don't drive the X much and it has been too cold to have the windows down until lately. I drove it yesterday and did hear a slight moan from the pump. It was really hard to hear from the cabin but when I opened the hood I could make it out. So it looks like FCP will be getting another fistful of cash from me!

At least it sounds like it will be fairly easy to replace on the N62! :dunno: