Jax White TA

It seems to make a growling noise when idling along and if you apply some pressure to the wheel, you hear it get louder. Its not eating fluid and the steering feels fine. What could it be? There's always been plenty of fluid too so I dont think air could've got in there.

TIA,
Dan

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

The steering rack is probably about to take a dump.

Jax White TA

Oh great. Have you seen this before? I thought it might be the power steering pump itself. <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0">

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: Jax White TA ]</p>

Jax White TA

Also, if it goes out when I am driving, doesnt that mean I will lose total control of the steering?

Crazyquik

Hmm, mine makes a little bit of noise, maybe its cause I've boiled the fluid twice <img src="graemlins/gr_angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" />

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

It happened to me with my 96 Z28. It will just get louder. Try swapping the fluid for synthetic P/S fluid and see what happens.

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: Richie Carbone ]</p>

Jax White TA

Thanks guys. I'll try the synthetic. I also have a power steering cooler I bought but never installed. I guess this would be a good time to do that. I would imagine it just goes inline after the rack before the pump right? Is there install instructions for the LS1 anywhere?

Dan

WFO_SS

iTrader: (2)

f-body p/s pumps ALWAYS make slight groaning noise when turning wheels @ idle speeds, especially with your foot on the brake. unless it is extremely loud and/or only does it in one direction, i wouldn't worry about it.

Jax White TA

I've had this car since 1999 and put over 40K miles on it. It has never been this loud. You can hear it over my C1 cam and SLP headers, ORY, running out the cutout. Yeah, I'd say that's loud.

WFO_SS

iTrader: (2)

one direction or both?
all rpms?
less assist since noise started?

Jax White TA

It can be heard just sitting there idling by not even touching the wheel. Sometimes it will stop, but can be started again by turning the wheel a bit either direction. The assist amount has not changed. It still steers just fine. I honestly cant say if it continues through the entire RPM range because the car is so loud.

Fletch

My 98 does this. Well it doesnt growl, but it whistles. It does it when I turn the wheel at idle and when I'm making a low speed turn like turning right or left at an intersection. I figure the whistling is normal, if I'm wrong can someone correct me?

Beth

My 98 began getting noisy and continued to get louder turning either way. It would moan as if I had the wheels turned all the way to one side. The Dealer replaced the pump under warranty and now I hear nothing at all. Not sure about a whistling.