power steering problem
 

I have an 89 N/A manual. I cant steer this thing to save my life. even driving around town, every bump and imperfection is amplified through the steering column, and cornering? forget it! half way through the corner I have both hands on the wheel, praying that the vibration and shaking wont overpower my arms. I replaced the steering rack today, and there was an improvement, on straight and slightly curved roads I can control it, but hard cornering is still out of the question. My ps pump has been flushed twice, makes no noise whatsoever, and turns effortlessly while standing still. Could it still be the pump?

thats sort of what happened to mine but i just needed power steering fluid?

>"My ps pump has been flushed twice, makes no noise whatsoever, and turns effortlessly while standing still. Could it still be the pump?"<

Assuming you mean the pump pulley turns effortlessly and not the front wheels, it sure sounds like the pump is shot. Try a pressure gage test on it. You should get ~1,000 psi when you turn the steering wheel hard left or right.

actually I did mean the wheels. there are no hard spots or anything when the car is stationary, I can turn from lock to lock with no problems.

Have you checked the tie rods yet?

i'm not sure if you meant that when you corner or turn that the steering is stiff or if you mean that the "vibration" is what makes it diffucult.

Did you check your ball joints? If they are bad then you will get movement between the parts when cornering and eventually they will break off and then you're really screwed.

I would stop thinking pump and look over the entire suspension system.

If the pump is making noise..., replace it.

It definitley sounds like a suspension issue.

Also the carrier bearing or center support bearing, whichever you call it.
Just give it a check and make sure you aren't getting bad vibes from it.

ok, some more detail. when I first got the new steering rack in, I took it for a test drive on a smooth road with some decent corners. I felt very small ammouts of vibration, but no problems with the steering wheel. that night I took it out on an old road outside of town, it has older cement with small bumps and imperfections, any imperfection I hit I almost loose the steering wheel, but if the road is totally smooth, I have almost no problems at all. I guess it really must be in the suspension system...

Isn't that what the cats over at supramania told you as well???

yeah, it is, but I wanted a few opinions, hopefully I have the problem solved, my lower ball joints turned out to be junk, didn't realize till I took a prybar to the bottom of the tire and moved it...