300Tdi Defender steering pump noise

[TonyC]

Hi All,
My 95 300Tdi Defender 130 at 240,000Km has started make a noise very like an ABS pump when you load up the steering, at higher loads it changes to something more like a rattle gun but not so loud.

No load no unusual noise, and the noise is there whether the steering is moving IE: turning the wheel, or stationary but loaded.

It can also be felt through the steering wheel.

With the bonnet up the noise is coming from the left hand (pump side) side of the motor, not the right hand (steering box) side.

There is a fair bit of "Lucas power steering stop leak" in the system as the steering box is/was leaking badly.

So is my steering pump on it's way out? or could it be some thing else?

Thanks

Tony

[one_iota]

Is the PS fluid in the reservoir frothy?

[roverrescue]

what level is the fluid?
when low on juice they will carry on a bit - not so good for box or pump either!

S

[TonyC]

Hi,

One Iota,
No, looks fine

Roverrescue

Level is OK, it has been low enough to create probs in the past (when the box started leaking badly), but not for the last 6 months or so.

Tony

[one_iota]

Tony,

With regards to froth it seems as though there isn't any air getting into the system...I've had a PS pump fail when one of its gaskets let go with froth preceding this event :mad:.

[roverrescue]

When idling is there any visible runout in the powersteer pump pulley.
I guess irrespective you are gonna be pulling the pump. A noisy pump is a dying pump.

S

[TonyC]

Thanks Guys,

There's is no visible runnout in the pulley.

I haven't yet pulled the belt off, I'll do that tomorrow.

I can't picture a failure mode in the pump that would give the symptoms, not that I know much about steering hydraulics.

I thought I would through to open to the Brains Trust to check it wasn't the Widget Valve in the Whosit Circuit :)

Tony

[TonyC]

Well I pulled the belt off this morning, the pump seems OK, smooth to turn slowly and I can feel some pulses when turned faster, I assume this is the the pump pumping,

No play that I can feel in the bearings, but there is 2 or 3 mm, measured at the pulley rim, of free play if you turn it back and forth, like the shaft is loose in the pulley or impeller.

The most frustrating is that it's now not making any unusual noises at all :mad:


Tony