I recently had a steering problem: the steering box was leaking and losing enough fluid to make the steering a bit heavy and choppy. I took it to a shop and they took down and rebuilt the steering box. When I took it back, there are no more leaks, but the steering is again a little heavy (mostly expressed as resistance when making turns, turning when in standstill is ok). It only sometimes becomes light as a feather as it used to be.

What could be the cause? Fluid level is to the top. Adjustment necessary? Air in the system?I hope it's not the pump that needs refurbishing....

Sounds like air in the system.

not identical symtems but mine had choppy steering, mainly when cold turned out to bea worn out belt tentioner. worying because the belt also drives the waterpump.

hey where abouts in london are you?

I've just recently replaced the belt pulleys before I had the steering box rebuilt...
I think it is an air problem because now it's getting better, i.e. it's very light most of the time, with now rare "heavy" moments.

I opened the fluid tank and the fluid has gone down 3-4cm reaching the rim of metal strainer. I turned the wheel left and right several times with the cap open, expecting to see air bubbles... none came out, but the lightness of the steering seems to be back now 85% of the times.

What level should the fluid be anyways?

dvitarana, I'm in SE16

Darren and Danny I think we should have a mini meet soon as we are all local!

Darren and Danny I think we should have a mini meet soon as we are all local!

:) don´t forget your digicams... :D

After pumping the brakes at least 20 times with the engine off the fluid level should be just coming thru the screen.
Remember to use only the correct Pentosin fluid in the system.

After pumping the brakes at least 20 times with the engine off the fluid level should be just coming thru the screen.
Remember to use only the correct Pentosin fluid in the system.

Terry, what's the connection between the braking and steering system in this case? Screen - is this the strainer? The cap says CHF, so that's what I'm putting.

To all the others, a London mini meet-up could be nice..

The braking and steering use a common high pressure hydraulic system.

There should also be a number for the fluid 7.1 is mineral based and 11.1 is synthetic.

The braking and steering use a common high pressure hydraulic system.

There should also be a number for the fluid 7.1 is mineral based and 11.1 is synthetic.

OK, will do what you recommended.

I was driving an e39 525d Auto for a few days and noticed the brakes needed much less effort to slow down a little or to stand still. When I came back to the 840, I noticed it needed quite a push to stand still and didn't really slow down with a gentle push on the brake pedal.
Is it possible that air got into the brake system as well? Should I bleed the brakes or what Terry recommended would fix it?

Starting test for poor brake performance.

Run the engine for a couple of minutes and then shut it off. Then Count the number of pedal pushes it takes for the brake pedal to get real hard and stop changing the amount of pressure it takes to fully depress it.

If it takes substantially less than 20 pushes to get to hard pedal then you most probably need a new brake accumulator.

If it takes at least 20 then it is time to replace the brake fluid, bleed the brakes and consider replacing the brake hoses at each wheel with stainless reinforced lines. The rubber hoses are getting stretchy and slow brake reaction down.

Hi Terry,

I did what you said and the brake pedal gets hard around the 16-17th push, so my first step is to change the break fluid.

The steering problem has gotten worse now. It is stiff more often than it is light now. Do you think it might be a valve/speed sensor problem, or the steering pump might not create enough pressure?? A couple of times when I hammer the gas and slightly turned the steering wheel, the power steering shut off for a second and the steering wheel almost locked!! The same now happens sometimes when I park/maneuver and shift from D to R and turn the steering and the same time: the power steering locks for about quarter of a second and the belt in front squeaks once shortly.

This makes me think it's time to rebuild the pump, what's your opinion??

... This makes me think it's time to rebuild the pump, what's your opinion??

How many miles on the car?

just turned 91,000, first registered 1/1/1997

The steering problem has gotten worse now. It is stiff more often than it is light now. Do you think it might be a valve/speed sensor problem, or the steering pump might not create enough pressure?? A couple of times when I hammer the gas and slightly turned the steering wheel, the power steering shut off for a second and the steering wheel almost locked!! The same now happens sometimes when I park/maneuver and shift from D to R and turn the steering and the same time: the power steering locks for about quarter of a second and the belt in front squeaks once shortly.

This makes me think it's time to rebuild the pump, what's your opinion??

anyone...?

Too lazy to reread thru the thread---How tight is your serpentine belt?

Your tensioners may be losing tension :( Mine did.

I had a chirp that I attributed to the transmission when it was shifting under hard throttle but it was the belt slipping during the shift. A whole lot cheaper :)

Anyway my primary belt tensioner looked ok but it was about 1/2" shorter than the new one I had sitting on the shelf.

I replaced the tensioners recently, the mechanic said the belt was still good.

Anyways, the mechanics had a look, tested it and finally took the steering box back for rebuild. I guess they were pretty sure the box was not refurbished correct, because they (or the refurb shop) will have to pay another 250 pounds for re-rebuild and another 250 take it out and back in again... It's been another week now, will keep you posted...