i just noticed this yesterday, it seemed to come out of nowhere. i was driving, and all of a sudden my car was really hard to steer around corners, like really stiff. I put some power steering fluid in it, and it worked ok for about a mile, but as soon as i started going around corners, it stiffened up again. Also, when i take a left turn, it sounds like something is hitting, or just making a quick knocking noise on the right side of the car. any ideas what this is? please dont tell me i need to replace the rack.

 

So was the fluid OUT? As in gone?

You'll need to bleed the PS system if so. How do you do that? Good question

Jack up the front of the car. With the engine running, run the steering all the way to the left (but don't let it hit the stop), then back to the right, and on and on. Rev the engine as well (give the PS pump some revs). Do that about 30-40 times, check the fluid level, top off if necessary, and drive it again. Hope that helps.

PaulC

 

Hehe well i had very notchy steering in my 7 one day, to a point where it was almost preventing me from turning the wheel, had me a little worried. So i investigated and found my turbo heat shield had broken the spot welds and fallen off and it jammed between the turbo and steering shaft
Probably not your problem though

 

Nope, probably not if he's running a US RX-7

PaulC

 

I am assuming the hard turning is at low speed, not above 45 MPH?

Because you know on the series 4 cars that above 25 MPH the power steering starts reducing its power assist until you get to 45 MPH where there is no assist at all.

 

yeah its at realy low speeds, like turning at stop signs and ****

 

lol, i know im bringing up an old post, but i noticed the same thing happening to me today. Anyone know what the problem is?

 

I would check and see that the belt on the power steering has the proper amount of tension on it...but i saw something like what you described and YA I know you said it but ..it turned out to be the rack ..the inner seal or somethin' like that can't remember that far back...I was a kid!he he!!