sudden hard steering

[WmWatt]

Has anyone experienced sudden onset hard steering? If so were you able to determine the cause?

The steering on my '89 L became noticeably hard on the way home, easy neighbourhood driving at 25 mph. There were no accompanying sounds. Tight all the way into the garage at home. I put it up on stands. The steering wheel turned freely. Removed the road wheels and everything connected to them looked and felt normal. Nothing there that shouldn't be. Took the car for a drive around the block, including some tight circles in the school parking lot, and it felt okay. Maybe a tad stiff but I'm so sensitized I can't swear it was much different from normal.

Sound familiar?

[wybnrml]

Are your tires low on air. Check your tire pressure, low air pressure can cause it to feel stiff.

[crazyrog17]

Reads like the power steering belt fell off, but if you said no accompanying sounds...

Maybe it was slipping?

[ejp2fast]

according to the festiva optional list- the 89 L doesn't have power steering...


inspect your steering rack and see if anything is abnormal there for a start.

[freshtiva]

Never heard of a rack and pinion bearing failing but Im sure it could happen. How are the boots on your steering rack ???

[WmWatt]

Thanks for the replies.
Haynes troubleshooting section suggests lubrication, alignment, tire pressure.
Tire pressure is okay. Will see about lubrication.
The car may have CV joint wear but I don't know if that could be a steering issue.
Test run again today no big problem.

[GenevaDirt]

I am having the same sort of problem ...I am thinking it is an issue with the strut mounts....were they pivot...being worn out. I have not taken the time to check yet.

I know upon just a quick visual inspection , where the strut bolts in under the hood, there is cracking in the rubber, almost like dry rot.

[Mike McKown]

I am having the same sort of problem ...I am thinking it is an issue with the strut mounts....were they pivot...being worn out. I have not taken the time to check yet.

I am going to suggest the same thing.

[WmWatt]

I jacked up the car and felt the coil spring while turning the steering wheel. Definitely dragging. I didn't think I was up to removing the springs so put some oil in a hose, shoved one end up next to the top of the shock rod, put the other end of the hose in my mouth, and blew, then turned the steering wheel back and forth to work it in. Did that a few times on each side and took the car for a test drive. The steering is easier. Dry shock mount is not mentioned in the trouble shooting section of the Haynes manual, and I would never have thought of it myslef. The dryness is understandable in a low milage 21 year old vehicle with original shocks.

[worfdog]

That's a neat trick. I'll try doing that to mine on day, because mine is getting stiff also. I will get someone to work the steering wheel back and forth while I spray some lube in it.

[batstiva]

I jacked up the car and felt the coil spring while turning the steering wheel. Definitely dragging. I didn't think I was up to removing the springs so put some oil in a hose, shoved one end up next to the top of the shock rod, put the other end of the hose in my mouth, and blew, then turned the steering wheel back and forth to work it in. Did that a few times on each side and took the car for a test drive. The steering is easier. Dry shock mount is not mentioned in the trouble shooting section of the Haynes manual, and I would never have thought of it myslef. The dryness is understandable in a low milage 21 year old vehicle with original shocks.

So, you gave your car a BJ, and it made it happy? Is that what you're saying?

[WmWatt]

Aiming for an enema but possible confusion over Festiva anatomy.