Steering Suddenly Gets Hard To Turn???

[forpinks]

I need to fix this ASAP! My well... Kia Pride CD-5's (Philippine Festiva) steering suddenly became hard and gets really hard to steer. sometimes with heavy acceleration, it gets stuck and in a few seconds becomes usable again. What would be the cause of the malfunction?

Thanks!

BTW: To make it on-topic, it happened when I lowered the car 3-4 inches and converted my struts to Mazda 323 OE-type struts. If this doesn't belong here, please move it to the repair section. I really need some feedback on this because I would have to take public transport to school.

[DON SVO]

Is is a power steering car?

[Bert]

If you have power steering on that car have a look at the pump, and the fluid reservoir to make sure it's full. Are there kinks in the hoses that can bind/pinch somewhere?
Next take a look at your balljoints and tie-rods (raise the car and try turning the wheels from side to side to feel for resistance).

Tongue in cheek from me; rather than resort to public transport (since the car steering sticks with 'heavy acceleration') maybe you want to slow down a bit until you get this figured out.

And; Good luck.

[forpinks]

Manual steering...

[forpinks]

I'll raise the front-end up first thing in the morning and see if the joints do something funny. Could it possibly be the steering rack or the gears? Is there any significant symptoms to know if its the steering itself that's bust?

PS: If anyone of you guys will say that it's because it is lowered, I just want you to know that it still goes lock-to-lock and still has some room around the fenders.

And, yeah... I really drove slowly and carefully when I noticed. I just hope I get it fixed ASAP.

[FestYboy]

look for binding in the strut mounts, lower ball joints and outer tierods, in that order.

[forpinks]

I found out the problem on the steering. The whole steering assembly broke from the tie-rod. Also, I may have to re-do the suspension, it needs more travel so it won't break again.

[Bert]

Good that you discovered that while it was stationary. Out on the highway that might have been ugly. Two front wheels trying to go in opposing directions causes severe driver steering conflict.

[Movin]

I found out the problem on the steering. The whole steering assembly broke from the tie-rod. Also, I may have to re-do the suspension, it needs more travel so it won't break again.

More travel? If you mean you did not have enough threads from the inner into the outer I think the aspire inner end is longer, your pride should
have the later threads in the rack. Maybe the pride is already longer?
OR do you mean the hole the tie-rod goes through needs more room?
You are lucky!!