Power Steering - Won't Countersteer and lots of Resistance - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

karl wasabi · 03-11-2009, 04:07 AM

OK, so I have a problem. I have an RB20 swap done to my car and I've noticed that my power steering is inconsistent. When I turn the wheel left or right really hard, I feel a lot of resistance in the steering as if the power steering went away. Also, when I make a turn and let the wheel go, the car will continue to turn in the direction it was going instead of countersteering back to straight. When drifting at the track, initiation is very hard due to the power steering giving me a lot of resistance. Also, I have to force the wheel to countersteer instead of just letting it go and do it's thing.

-Coilovers are NOT binding
-Caster is set to 7 deg.
-Alignment is straight as an arrow
-PS has been bled many times
-Belt is tight

I have also have a high pressure stainless line and a pretty decent sized oil cooler. Do you guys think the size of the cooler can affect the steering in this way?

I searched and only found one thread similar to the problem that I am having, but the guy had a KA and he couldn't figure out the problem either. He ended up removing the pressure biasing valve on the pump itself. I do not want to do that, nor do I know how to do that. haha.

Any help or advice will be much appreciated. Thank You!

NeedCAforS13 · 03-11-2009, 07:51 AM

Did you crush/bend one of the hard lines on the back of the rack? I did that pulling my SR out of the car last time and it resulted in a similar feel...

slider2828 · 03-11-2009, 09:56 AM

Yes check all your hardlines, also replace your PS fluid if not done so.... The pump might be going out and maybe adjust your rack. Its that big hex thing with a 10 mm nub on it. Turn the nub in while keeping the heck still or other way to make the wheel turn back and looser.

So loosen the heck nut first and turn away! O 1/4 turn at a time and then test.... Its a sensitive adjustment.

karl wasabi · 03-11-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeedCAforS13

Did you crush/bend one of the hard lines on the back of the rack? I did that pulling my SR out of the car last time and it resulted in a similar feel...

Yeah, I made sure I didn't crush the lines. The lines are still good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slider2828

Yes check all your hardlines, also replace your PS fluid if not done so.... The pump might be going out and maybe adjust your rack. Its that big hex thing with a 10 mm nub on it. Turn the nub in while keeping the heck still or other way to make the wheel turn back and looser.

So loosen the heck nut first and turn away! O 1/4 turn at a time and then test.... Its a sensitive adjustment.

I have hear about this, but I didn't know how to do it. So...I just loosen the big hex and then loosen the smaller hex to make the steering lighter? Or tighten it?

slider2828 · 03-11-2009, 05:11 PM

Woops damn it... Loosen the nut to make it looser, tighten the nut to make it tighter....

karl wasabi · 03-11-2009, 05:25 PM

Thanks. Imaginary rep. I'll do this and see if it makes a difference. If it does, I love you long time.

karl wasabi · 03-13-2009, 01:19 PM

So, a new problem has surfaced. When I'm driving at decent speeds, if I shake the wheel left and right really fast, the front end feels like it's floating. The steering input and what the car does are not one. By the time I turn the wheel left, the cars is still going right. It's a very scary feeling. IDK how to describe it other than detached and lagging.

Could this be my rack going bad?

peetiewonder · 03-13-2009, 11:18 PM

that sounds like a steering rack to me. my dad's steering rack is going out in his fiero and it does the exact same thing, no PS though.

yokotavia · 03-17-2009, 04:05 AM

im having the same issues as stated in the first post.

i have changed the power steering PUMP AND RACK from a known working car.

tightened the belt and bled the ps multiple times.

still seems to be fighting me and seems to not turn back to center.

anyone have any ideas???

no kinked hardlines or anything...

slider2828 · 03-17-2009, 10:09 AM

yokotavia, like I said, play with the center adjuster....

As for OP, maybe you turned it too much 1/4 at most..... But also it could be center play. Racks are a pain in the ass and I have gone through 2 rebuilts in a year and this one still sucks

03-11-2009, 04:07 AM	#1
karl wasabi Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Walnut/SoCal Posts: 3,898 Trader Rating: (41) Feedback Score: 41 reviews	Power Steering - Won't Countersteer and lots of Resistance OK, so I have a problem. I have an RB20 swap done to my car and I've noticed that my power steering is inconsistent. When I turn the wheel left or right really hard, I feel a lot of resistance in the steering as if the power steering went away. Also, when I make a turn and let the wheel go, the car will continue to turn in the direction it was going instead of countersteering back to straight. When drifting at the track, initiation is very hard due to the power steering giving me a lot of resistance. Also, I have to force the wheel to countersteer instead of just letting it go and do it's thing. -Coilovers are NOT binding -Caster is set to 7 deg. -Alignment is straight as an arrow -PS has been bled many times -Belt is tight I have also have a high pressure stainless line and a pretty decent sized oil cooler. Do you guys think the size of the cooler can affect the steering in this way? I searched and only found one thread similar to the problem that I am having, but the guy had a KA and he couldn't figure out the problem either. He ended up removing the pressure biasing valve on the pump itself. I do not want to do that, nor do I know how to do that. haha. Any help or advice will be much appreciated. Thank You! __________________ Karl Wasabi Private Seller - Review Thread

03-11-2009, 07:51 AM	#2
NeedCAforS13 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tampa, Florida Age: 40 Posts: 628 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Did you crush/bend one of the hard lines on the back of the rack? I did that pulling my SR out of the car last time and it resulted in a similar feel... __________________

03-11-2009, 09:56 AM	#3
slider2828 Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 6,040 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	Yes check all your hardlines, also replace your PS fluid if not done so.... The pump might be going out and maybe adjust your rack. Its that big hex thing with a 10 mm nub on it. Turn the nub in while keeping the heck still or other way to make the wheel turn back and looser. So loosen the heck nut first and turn away! O 1/4 turn at a time and then test.... Its a sensitive adjustment. __________________ Turn and Burn!

03-11-2009, 05:11 PM	#5
slider2828 Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 6,040 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	Woops damn it... Loosen the nut to make it looser, tighten the nut to make it tighter.... __________________ Turn and Burn!

03-11-2009, 05:25 PM	#6
karl wasabi Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Walnut/SoCal Posts: 3,898 Trader Rating: (41) Feedback Score: 41 reviews	Thanks. Imaginary rep. I'll do this and see if it makes a difference. If it does, I love you long time. __________________ Karl Wasabi Private Seller - Review Thread

03-13-2009, 01:19 PM	#7
karl wasabi Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Walnut/SoCal Posts: 3,898 Trader Rating: (41) Feedback Score: 41 reviews	So, a new problem has surfaced. When I'm driving at decent speeds, if I shake the wheel left and right really fast, the front end feels like it's floating. The steering input and what the car does are not one. By the time I turn the wheel left, the cars is still going right. It's a very scary feeling. IDK how to describe it other than detached and lagging. Could this be my rack going bad? __________________ Karl Wasabi Private Seller - Review Thread

03-13-2009, 11:18 PM	#8
peetiewonder Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Dizzle Age: 36 Posts: 391 Trader Rating: (11) Feedback Score: 11 reviews	that sounds like a steering rack to me. my dad's steering rack is going out in his fiero and it does the exact same thing, no PS though. __________________ My Car is a Hybrid. It Burns Gas and Rubber.

03-17-2009, 04:05 AM	#9
yokotavia Zilvia Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The land of bosos and schoolgirls Posts: 679 Trader Rating: (16) Feedback Score: 16 reviews	im having the same issues as stated in the first post. i have changed the power steering PUMP AND RACK from a known working car. tightened the belt and bled the ps multiple times. still seems to be fighting me and seems to not turn back to center. anyone have any ideas??? no kinked hardlines or anything... __________________ Banana boat chronicles

03-17-2009, 10:09 AM	#10
slider2828 Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 6,040 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	yokotavia, like I said, play with the center adjuster.... As for OP, maybe you turned it too much 1/4 at most..... But also it could be center play. Racks are a pain in the ass and I have gone through 2 rebuilts in a year and this one still sucks __________________ Turn and Burn!