Thread: Discovery 2 Power Steering Issues

Hi Guys,

I have been having issues with the power steering system in my 2004 Discovery 2 TD5.

Initially the steering was getting stiff (intermittently) seemingly at random.
After investigation with my mechanic:

• All the mechanical components seem good after testing them on at the workshop.
• The power steering pump begun to leak (first slowly but then leaking alot, requiring top up every day).

The steering feels like it goes through stiff-easy-stiff-easy when turning the wheel.
No change with engine speed, gears engage/not-engaged, vehicle speed.

After a new PS pump was installed, the serpentine belt broke when driving home (just managed to get into the driveway before loss of power steering, brakes and engine temp) and wrapped around the pulleys - this was also repaired by the mechanic after a tow.

However, I still have the following symptoms:

• Still a stiff-easy-stiff-easy feeling when turning the wheel.
• Steering wheel won't return to center automatically (or with any assistance) when passing a "stiff-zone" of the wheel turning.

My leading theory is the steering box is with damaged or jammed with bad PS fluid.
Or possibly, could the serpentine belt braking have damaged the new PS pump?

Any help would be appreciated

Regards,

Hayden

Something you could easily try yourself at home with basic tools(couple of spanners), would be to remove the steering damper and check it for resistance and slack spots.
Long shot, but costs nothing to try.

Alternatively, a common cause of steering stiffness can be the unijoint on the steering shaft to the box(near the box). If you're not confident to do yourself, you can easily muck up the alignment of the wheel, which is then annoying to get it centred again when putting back together. Not hard, just this part of it needs care to do.

Was the replacement pump genuine? aftermarket .. was it bled properly. Just because a mechanic does it doesn't mean 'sheet' nowadays .. too many out there nowadays doing rubbish work.
ie. do you know mechanic well, trust .. etc.