Xantia steering is heavy. Wondering how to fix?

[fotobright]

Hi there,

98 xantia TD. Been noticing the steering is getting heavier and think the suspension feels a little stiffer.

The hydraulic pump to pressure regulator pipe has sprung a leak, which isnt helping. I need to replace the whole pipe, Citroen say they dont have any anymore!

Does anyone have a 5270GL?

Not sure if that leak is affecting the steering per say but it cant be helping. The car goes up and down as it did before, brakes ok, car sits in a stright line fine but cornering is increasingly a battle. Its just no happy!

Any ideas about what to eliminate apart from the hydra leak?

Thanks

[Peter.N.]

I should fix the leaking pipe first. If its broken inside the connection to the pump you can braze/silver solder an olive on the end of the pipe, works a treat.

Peter

[citroenxm]

If you have a leak it Does need addressing first..

the PAS is very fluid thirsty not necessary high pressure.. the pump pulls a lot of fluid to feed the pas pinion valve.. Id after fixing the leak is remove the pipes from the top of the tank at the top right remove the retaing bar and lift out the centre .. check the filters for blockage as this will limit the fluid flow.. there's two filters a feed and return filter.. ones circular and the other sort of oval..

the other thing is the fluid quality itself.. it should be a sort of lime green type of colour.. getting towards brown then its due a change...

[Xantianut]

Ay up!

Can I repeat the need to sort out the leak first?

If this doesn't cure it then try replacing the pressure regulator sphere. If this has filled with fluid, then this can cause the symptoms you describe. Its easy to diagnose. Listen to the engine running once you've sorted the leak. If the regulator is clicking constantly, then the sphere needs changing.

As for the pipe, there are repair kits on Fleabay but they're for the brakes, not the main feed pipe.

[citroenxm]

The regulator sphere May have an effect on the suspension but it won't make an ounce difference to the steering.. This is because from 1995 onwards or when anti sink was introduced the PAS is driven DIRECTLY from the pump similar to a normal Pas setup... So the heavy steering will be either leak related, blocked filters reducing pump suction to supply (had this myself on mums car) or tired fluid that needs a change.

[fotobright]

Hi,
Thanks for thoughts on this.

From Peter- 'you can braze/silver solder an olive on the end of the pipe, works a treat'.

Its the pump end that leaking so worth trying out the olive idea. I'm thinking this means chopping out the old flare and taking a 6mm copper olive and soldering it at the same point the original is. sounds fiddly but possible! Could you confirm the process if pos.

I defo want to get the leak fixed because its dripping onto the alternator, the O ring inside the hydra pump has just been done but that wasnt the problem. i'd just buy the pipe and fit it but Citroen saying they dont have any. I'm wondering if i could find a suitable replacement without corrosion at a scrap yard?

The blocked filters is a pos issue however cos of the leak its got quite a lot of new LMW in the system.

One issue i've just seen on this forum is talk of a seizing universal joint, especially apparent as the weather gets colder. I dont thing that'll have seen any lube for years, which might be part of the problem.

[Peter.N.]

You will probably find that the flare had almost broken off, its the crack that leaks the fluid, incidentally the usual reason that the pipe fails is because the accumulator shpere is flat.

Peter

[Xantidote]

One issue i've just seen on this forum is talk of a seizing universal joint

Try giving the UJ a few squirts of spray grease

[Old-Guy]

I'm wondering if i could find a suitable replacement without corrosion at a scrap yard?

Very likely if you hunt around, but make sure the possible donor car has the hydraulic pump in the same position, as this varies according to engine and whether or not A/C is fitted.

[fotobright]

One issue i've just seen on this forum is talk of a seizing universal joint

Try giving the UJ a few squirts of spray grease

is that the UJ on the steering rack column or somewhere else?

[Xantidote]

The UJ I was refering to, and which you've seen mentioned in other posts, is the bottom UJ on the steering column. Sealed for life, and can start to become stiffer, or notchy, with age. Notchiness has certainly been reported, and this has been "cured" by the application of spray grease, so worth a go.

IIRC, access is a bit fiddly, but from underneath, or through the offside wheel arch (sorry can't remember ). Use of the spray means you don't have to get right to the UJ. Give it a few squirts, and then maybe again a few days later. Chances are, on the second application, the UJ will be orientated slightly differently, so increasing the chance of getting the grease to where it's needed.

I give the UJ a few squirts on a random basis every few years, especially as the car gets older, as a precautionary measure.

[Xaccers]

While you're under there you could always give the turbo's waste gate a couple of turns clockwise to up the psi

[fotobright]

While you're under there you could always give the turbo's waste gate a couple of turns clockwise to up the psi

Couple of turns on the Turbo waste gate! Now that sounds like a fancy move.. if only I knew anything about what you've just said there

Right so liquid grease has now been applied to the UJ..tick that off the list
The correct pipe has been purchased..Citroen back order purchase.

[fotobright]

As per FCF ideas about how to fix the heavy steering i've fixed a few things to sort the heavy steering.

Installed a new hydraulic pump to pressure regulator pipe
checked and cleaned the LHM filters
Sprayed grease at universal joint (think it was that, got to it through drivers wheel arch)
fluid is mostly green, been changed over the last year
new pressure regulator sphere fitted yesterday

So after i'd fitted the sphere I drove home car seemed better, slight issue with steering but car better. Got in the car the next morning and the steering was more notchy than it have even been? Car seemed to be pulling into the road too. However after i'd driven it 20 miles left it to sit at work and got back in at the end of the day the steering and suspension were noticably softer and better all round.

Why is the car worse in the morning, can there be air in the system, not enough grease on UJ. What do you think it might be?

Any ideas or a link welcome