Steering gear stiff.

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superloopy
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Steering gear stiff.

Post by superloopy »

With the sun shining up here in the wilderness called the North East I decided to 'assess', I use the term loosely as it did not take long, the scrap of an S reg Activa i have standing in the drive and which SWMBO has decreed must go soon [-X

Considering it's been standing for around three years following an immobiliser fault, now mysteriously fixed, and has had absolutely no love lavished on her she's not in too bad nick from the outside.

However mechanically ... both rams leak like sieves (i've got a couple of spares including a brand spanking new one in the shed), there's a radiator leak (new one needed) and now the steering has become an issue so i'm wondering if it's worth the bovva #-o #-o and i've got an abs light on (trivial).

So ... my question to all the steering rack experts out there is a) what can go wrong, it's making an awful noise side to side and b) are all racks the same across the xantia range in case this one has had it?

Oh, nearly forgot, clutch, when depressed is extremely noisy too. Just another one to add to the list :wink:

I bought her originally because in Silex Grey with a cream interior she looked ace and the plan was to chav her up with a set of 17" Resolfens (also in the shed, it's a bigggggggg shed :) ) .... never happened because she locked me out with an immobiliser problem only two months into ownership and then mysteriously came back to life 2 years later. I thought i'd teach her a lesson and ignore her, until now when time has come to put up or shut up!
Mike

Xantia Activa Dante Red MK1 (96) 121k - SORN, to be broken
Xantia Activa Silex Grey MK2 (98) 120k -SORN, ditto
Xantia V6 Silex Grey MK2 (98) 95k - non-runner
Xantia TD Storm Grey MK1 (95) 95k - non-runner
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Stickyfinger
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Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by Stickyfinger »

Just do not scrap it please....@~

If you get rid, does that leave you Activa free then ?

Wheels should be £300 on Ebay if in good nick.
Alasdair
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superloopy
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Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by superloopy »

Stickyfinger wrote:Just do not scrap it please....@~

If you get rid, does that leave you Activa free then ?

Wheels should be £300 on Ebay if in good nick.

I dont want to scrap it but cant fix it either .... two activae and one V6 and not a decent car between them. So much for my spannering skills eh :)

No pointers on the steering probs?

Wheels were refurbed and put away so should be aok.
Mike

Xantia Activa Dante Red MK1 (96) 121k - SORN, to be broken
Xantia Activa Silex Grey MK2 (98) 120k -SORN, ditto
Xantia V6 Silex Grey MK2 (98) 95k - non-runner
Xantia TD Storm Grey MK1 (95) 95k - non-runner
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Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by RichardW »

The UJ at the bottom of the column will have seized up.
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Stickyfinger
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Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by Stickyfinger »

What sort on noise is it, from the valve or as Richard says, the UJ, some 3 in 1 seems good for it. My old estate years ago went stiff and I jacked it both sides and applied the oil with it on full lock, left it for a couple and it worked fine, coated it then in spray white-Gs
Alasdair
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superloopy
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Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by superloopy »

Best way to describe it is a sort of 'resistance' noise when attempting to move wheel from side to side. The car's not been moved for a couple of years so UJ could be the problem. How do i get access to it? What needs to come off?

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Mike

Xantia Activa Dante Red MK1 (96) 121k - SORN, to be broken
Xantia Activa Silex Grey MK2 (98) 120k -SORN, ditto
Xantia V6 Silex Grey MK2 (98) 95k - non-runner
Xantia TD Storm Grey MK1 (95) 95k - non-runner
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Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by Xantidote »

Northerner wrote:How do i get access to it? What needs to come off?
I can't imagine it's much different to my S1 TD, and IIRC, I can just about get a spray to reach it from the o/s wheel arch with wheel removed. I think that I may have also, as the car's jacked up to remove the front wheel, grovelled under the car to try and apply spray from underneath, although I can't remember if there was something getting in the way. Usual caveat about car chocked at rear, & front supported on axle stand of course.
Martin

1995 Xantia TDLX (deceased :( )
superloopy
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Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by superloopy »

Anyone got a pic of UJ so i know what to aim at with Plusgas [emoji1]

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Mike

Xantia Activa Dante Red MK1 (96) 121k - SORN, to be broken
Xantia Activa Silex Grey MK2 (98) 120k -SORN, ditto
Xantia V6 Silex Grey MK2 (98) 95k - non-runner
Xantia TD Storm Grey MK1 (95) 95k - non-runner
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Stickyfinger
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Joined: 28 Mar 2013, 21:05
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AX, little Daffodil
SAXO White Mk1. Sally
x 1289
Contact:

Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by Stickyfinger »

Image
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
superloopy
Posts: 3306
Joined: 30 Mar 2005, 03:25
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x 18

Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by superloopy »

Thanks for that sticky ... so which bit gets doused with plusgas/grease, all of it or just that upper section with the swivel on it?
Mike

Xantia Activa Dante Red MK1 (96) 121k - SORN, to be broken
Xantia Activa Silex Grey MK2 (98) 120k -SORN, ditto
Xantia V6 Silex Grey MK2 (98) 95k - non-runner
Xantia TD Storm Grey MK1 (95) 95k - non-runner
User avatar
Stickyfinger
(Donor 2016)
Posts: 10435
Joined: 28 Mar 2013, 21:05
Location: Somset my lovleee
My Cars: Xantia V6 ACTIVA 3ltr 24v Manual p1
Xm 2.1TD Ph2 Exclusive
AX, little Daffodil
SAXO White Mk1. Sally
x 1289
Contact:

Re: Steering gear stiff.

Post by Stickyfinger »

I hit the UJ on the top, the pinion should be ok if the seal is secure. My present one is clean as a whistling thing. I got it when it was up on the ramps in the garage with the liner off.
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
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