Groaning or Rubbing Steering - Land Rovers Only

DevilDisco · 03-24-2006, 07:44 PM

When I first start the Disco up and it has not been ideling for a while I hear what seems to be a rubbing or groaningg sound when I turn the wheel. You can feel it throught the steering wheel. Is this normal? The service Dept said it was it does not do it after it has been idling, for a while or after I drive for a short distance. The power steering fluid was flushed/ sucked out through the reservoir and new fluid was put in. But it was not done by the dealer. The Service Dept could not find anything wrong with it, but when it groans I get a little uneasy. Any suggetions? Is there a specific powersteering fluid I should put in there or are the pretty much all alike execpt for the diff between Convention and synthetic oil? The Disco has 30k miles on it.
DD

Disco Mike · 03-25-2006, 06:39 AM

If this is something you want to fix yourself, I can walk you thru it easily.
Go to a parts store, buy 2 pints of Vavoline's synthetic power steering fluid and one bottle of Lucas P/S additive for leaks. If you have an old turkey baster, long plastic tube with a bulb on the end, otherwise you can buy obe at the auto parts store, they are used for sucking battery acid out of batterys, or in your casep/s fluid from the resevor.
Now suck all the fluid out of the p/s resevor, add new p/s fluid, start the engine turn the steering left and right a couple of time, turn off the engine and remove the fluid again. Repeat this untill the fluid in the reservor looks pretty clear when you are sucking it out, then put the whole bottle of Lucas in the system, top off with synthetic if you need to.
Now just drive it, if all goes well, usually a couple of days of driving, your steering will be back to normal.
Any questions?
Mike

DevilDisco · 03-25-2006, 05:19 PM

Sounds Simple. I will try it tomorrow. Thanks a lot.

Do you know why it would make that sound after a simple flush and fill??? I don't want to do this again.
Devildisco.

Disco Mike · 03-25-2006, 05:26 PM

I don't believe it was caused by the flush. Sometimes some of the internal valving can stick and make those noises. By the way, how is the belt condition and tension.
Give it a couple of days of driving and it should go away.
Mike

DevilDisco · 03-27-2006, 05:49 PM

I tried it today. Getting the fluid out was messier than I thought I got one of those Siphon pumps from Autozone.. I think a turkey baster would have definitely been easier to control especially since the resivoir is in two parts, but I got most of it out. It came out pretty clean the first time since I had a drain and fill on it about 3kmiles ago. I only had to drain th resivoir twice. That Lucas stuff is thick so I can see why it would take a few days. Thanks for the advice. I'm sure I wil let you know every thing is ok in a few days. Hey maybe I'll change my own oil after this. I probably have about 2 months to get all the equipment together.

Disco Mike · 03-27-2006, 06:14 PM

Let me know how it goes.
Mike

DevilDisco · 03-30-2006, 06:19 AM

The groaning has gotten noticeably better, or quieter. Still not completely gone yet but I think the fluid is still working its way into the system. It only happens at startup at work when I need to immediately turn the wheel left or right to get out of the parking spot. Yesterday it was barely noticeable I am sure by the end of the week it will be just as it was before the intial flush. Thanks again.

Disco Mike · 03-30-2006, 07:44 AM

Glad to hear t is getting quieter, saves having to buy a pump.
Good luck,
Mike

DevilDisco · 04-06-2006, 05:52 AM

It is definitely better than before but not like when I first got the Disco. If I jump in, start the Disco and then turn the wheel. The steering is not happy, but if I let it idle for about 2minutes the whole thing is very smooth. Driving around town I would definitely say it is smoother. I noticed before how much effort it took to turn the wheel. Now it seems very light and as a result the vehicle seem more nimble. If the pump however is going it's probably time to extend that warranty I think I have aobut 15k before it runs out.

Disco Mike · 04-06-2006, 09:12 AM

Well, you can't fix them all, usually this will turn a steering problem around, sounds like your's has gone a little too far.
Take care,
Mike

03-24-2006, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
DevilDisco He did what in his cup??? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,005 Gallery: 0	Groaning or Rubbing Steering When I first start the Disco up and it has not been ideling for a while I hear what seems to be a rubbing or groaningg sound when I turn the wheel. You can feel it throught the steering wheel. Is this normal? The service Dept said it was it does not do it after it has been idling, for a while or after I drive for a short distance. The power steering fluid was flushed/ sucked out through the reservoir and new fluid was put in. But it was not done by the dealer. The Service Dept could not find anything wrong with it, but when it groans I get a little uneasy. Any suggetions? Is there a specific powersteering fluid I should put in there or are the pretty much all alike execpt for the diff between Convention and synthetic oil? The Disco has 30k miles on it. DD __________________ '04 Discovery SE7. Last of the best.

03-25-2006, 05:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
DevilDisco He did what in his cup??? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,005 Gallery: 0	Sounds Simple. I will try it tomorrow. Thanks a lot. Do you know why it would make that sound after a simple flush and fill??? I don't want to do this again. Devildisco. __________________ '04 Discovery SE7. Last of the best.

03-27-2006, 05:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
DevilDisco He did what in his cup??? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,005 Gallery: 0	I tried it today. Getting the fluid out was messier than I thought I got one of those Siphon pumps from Autozone.. I think a turkey baster would have definitely been easier to control especially since the resivoir is in two parts, but I got most of it out. It came out pretty clean the first time since I had a drain and fill on it about 3kmiles ago. I only had to drain th resivoir twice. That Lucas stuff is thick so I can see why it would take a few days. Thanks for the advice. I'm sure I wil let you know every thing is ok in a few days. Hey maybe I'll change my own oil after this. I probably have about 2 months to get all the equipment together. __________________ '04 Discovery SE7. Last of the best.

03-30-2006, 06:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
DevilDisco He did what in his cup??? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,005 Gallery: 0	The groaning has gotten noticeably better, or quieter. Still not completely gone yet but I think the fluid is still working its way into the system. It only happens at startup at work when I need to immediately turn the wheel left or right to get out of the parking spot. Yesterday it was barely noticeable I am sure by the end of the week it will be just as it was before the intial flush. Thanks again. __________________ '04 Discovery SE7. Last of the best.

04-06-2006, 05:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
DevilDisco He did what in his cup??? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,005 Gallery: 0	It is definitely better than before but not like when I first got the Disco. If I jump in, start the Disco and then turn the wheel. The steering is not happy, but if I let it idle for about 2minutes the whole thing is very smooth. Driving around town I would definitely say it is smoother. I noticed before how much effort it took to turn the wheel. Now it seems very light and as a result the vehicle seem more nimble. If the pump however is going it's probably time to extend that warranty I think I have aobut 15k before it runs out. __________________ '04 Discovery SE7. Last of the best.

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03-25-2006, 06:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Disco Mike Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Parker, Colorado Posts: 5,329 Gallery: 0	If this is something you want to fix yourself, I can walk you thru it easily. Go to a parts store, buy 2 pints of Vavoline's synthetic power steering fluid and one bottle of Lucas P/S additive for leaks. If you have an old turkey baster, long plastic tube with a bulb on the end, otherwise you can buy obe at the auto parts store, they are used for sucking battery acid out of batterys, or in your casep/s fluid from the resevor. Now suck all the fluid out of the p/s resevor, add new p/s fluid, start the engine turn the steering left and right a couple of time, turn off the engine and remove the fluid again. Repeat this untill the fluid in the reservor looks pretty clear when you are sucking it out, then put the whole bottle of Lucas in the system, top off with synthetic if you need to. Now just drive it, if all goes well, usually a couple of days of driving, your steering will be back to normal. Any questions? Mike

03-25-2006, 05:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Disco Mike Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Parker, Colorado Posts: 5,329 Gallery: 0	I don't believe it was caused by the flush. Sometimes some of the internal valving can stick and make those noises. By the way, how is the belt condition and tension. Give it a couple of days of driving and it should go away. Mike

03-27-2006, 06:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Disco Mike Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Parker, Colorado Posts: 5,329 Gallery: 0	Let me know how it goes. Mike

03-30-2006, 07:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
Disco Mike Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Parker, Colorado Posts: 5,329 Gallery: 0	Glad to hear t is getting quieter, saves having to buy a pump. Good luck, Mike

04-06-2006, 09:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
Disco Mike Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Parker, Colorado Posts: 5,329 Gallery: 0	Well, you can't fix them all, usually this will turn a steering problem around, sounds like your's has gone a little too far. Take care, Mike

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