My steering is more stiff in the 90/-90 degree rotation area. Not so stiff that it feels like I have no power steering, but maybe 20% more stiff than the rest of the range. Also, when coming out of a turn, I release the steering wheel and it stops returning to center when it hits that 90/-90 degree rotation area, so unless I assist, my car will continue going in a curved path

I've already done a complete PSF flush using the method outlined here, but there's no change yet (day 2)... Also, the pump appears to be working because it spit PSF into my container with crazy pressure behind it...

Guidance, please

 

I would start looking at all the front end bushings.

Did you recently add spacers? I have heard of this screwing things up.

 

I would look at the lower control arm bushings or your tie rods(inner and outer). I'm willing to bet an arm and legs thats the issue.

 

my car is completely stock except the stereo (and of course, new tires).

 

just check out those components I told you. I'm pretty sure its the inner tie rod. Your power steering works only when you give it a little more gas than usual. Otherwise the steering wheel barely moves right?

 

It functions the same even when the car is idling. I can turn the wheel, but I'd say it takes maybe 20% more effort to do so. It's not like trying to turn the wheel when the belt around the pump snaps off (nearly impossible), but it just seems different than it used to be. Driving it around today, it doesn't seem to be getting worse, and I had a mechanic friend look at it and drive it around and he doesn't think it's the pump either. He wanted to look at the rack and pinion but it was raining today and our garage is full. Maybe tomorrow. I'll have him look at the "lower control arm bushings or your tie rods(inner and outer)", since I have no idea what those are Thanks for the tip, I'll update tomorrow

 

I had a similar issue. My steering was almost the same. Tie rod fixed the issue. When you jack the car up. Hold the wheels and try to wiggle. Does it wiggle a lot?

 

like the actual wheel? Grab the rubber wheel and wiggle? lemme go check, shouldn't take long to jack the car up... back in 10

 

Yea just jack the front of the car off the ground. Then wiggle the wheel, if there's a lot of play then there is a good chance those inner tie rods need to be replaced. But of course it could be a few other things. But i doubt it.

 

You're not gonna believe this... 24-hours after I did the PSF flush/refill, with the car still driving slightly stiff all day, i went to move the car from the street onto the driveway and when I turned the wheel, perfectly smooth. My guess is I probably had some air trapped that didn't come out til today - my friend told me to rebleed the system, turning the wheel lock-to-lock, but with the cap off (i didn't do it with the cap off yesterday). He popped the hood and took the cap off and looked at the color and replaced the cap and said it looked good... maybe the pressure needed to be released like opening a soda can?

whatever it was, he drove it 3 hours ago and said it was stiff, parked it, took the resevoir cap off, put it back on, said "i don't know, man, i'll check the rack and pinion tomorrow"... then I tried to move the car just now and it's working with no issues

 

wow... lol
well congrats !!!
no $$$ out ur pocket be happy lol

 

LOL right? well, the $20 i spent on fluids and a pump, and the hour and a half it took me to flush the system on my own... but I learned a new trade and hell yea, my car is working again! thanks so much

In conclusion: my issue was resolved by a power steering fluid flush and refill, bleeding the system, driving around the next day, and bleeding the power steering again 24-hours after the refill. Thanks g35driver.com and all participating members

 

i think the same thing happned to me, happy for u, i knew this was a real pain in the a**