Stiff steering!

[froggy]

Hi, my S2 Xantia"s steering has suddenly got very stiff, Iam finding it difficult to turn the wheel ! there are no leaks visable, any ideas any one? many thanks in advance Terry.

[CitroJim]

Hi Terry, you've definitely lost some power assistance..

If you have lost it all the steering will be impossibly stiff and I mean by that practically unsteerable.. That fact that you can just suggests there is still a modicum of assistance there.

My first bet would be that there is a tiny air leak on the suction (input) side of the Hydraulic pump. Just a tint air leak 'twixt LHM reservoir and pump will cause heavy steering as the steering system is very demanding of high volumes of airless LHM

The air leak can be so tiny as to not cause leakage of LHM.

One quick test is to look for the returning LHM in the reservoir being frothy. If the LHM has a distinct creamy head on it then you have air ingress...

Else that the pump has gone on strike or the inlet pipe to the pump has internally collapsed and can no longer convey the volumes of LHM needed.

The suspension and braking side is not nearly so greedy of volume so a lot can go awry before it shows up as a problem there. The steering is always the first to show up any problems.

[RichardW]

You may have jumped the gun Jim, my first thought would be the UJ at the bottom of the column. Give it a good squirt with penetrating oil ( you can do this on high with full left lock on, from behind the RH front wheel. If your aim is good!). If this improves it, then you will need to get it oiled / greased properly - which is not easy, but it can be done. When this UJ goes striff the steering gets a very odd feel to it - it will go tight if you lean on gently, or move it quickly, but once you have gone past the tightness it will seem to lighten up, and then if you quickly turn it back and fore again the stiffness will have gone. It makes smooth progress pretty difficult....

[CitroJim]

Good thinking Richard

[Stewart(oily)]

My Xantia steering became very odd last year, I was thinking all about racks and pumps but lubricating that steering column UJ fixed it easily, car on high setting full left lock and greasy oily stuff on a half inch paintbrush fixed it.

[Old-Guy]

Reservoir level (on Service High)?

Is the auxiliary drive belt tension correct? I know from experience that if the belt is not quite tight enough, the HP pump can provide enough volume for brakes and suspension but steering becomes very heavy when (un-)parking. As for impossibly heavy if NO power-assistance, it depends on tyres and surface - the Green Lady could be steered while being pushed across gritty tarmac but became near-impossible to steer once the front wheels were on a grippy workshop floor

[Rhothgar]

Thank God someone raised this issue. Mine became tight too on Friday. Have to steer it back to central sometimes. Going to go and get some PlusGas on it now.

Mine has gone before and lubing UJ sorted it out.

[Rhothgar]

Now redone. Worked a treat.

[CitroJim]

Roger, don't just use Plus Gas as that has no real lubricity about it..

Follow it up with a good dousing of spray grease or a spray of motorbike chain grease...

Otherwise you'll be back to square one in no time....

[Rhothgar]

Too late Jim. PlusGas used up. Not got time to do spray grease now but may in Austria if warm enough.

Any colour? White grease? Silver Grease?

[CitroJim]

Any colour? White grease? Silver Grease?

The oily, yellow stuff for preference Roger, think chain grease

Have a lovely time in Austria

[Rhothgar]

Normal grease then Jim?

Hope you have a nice Xmas too mate.

[CitroJim]

Normal grease then Jim?

Yes, that's it Roger but of the spray variety