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Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 7:18 pm
by whalenlg
Finished replacing the torn seal and rack back in the car.
Pretty much back where I started - steers back and forth easily on the stands, but when go out for a drive it is very heavy and spurts power every so often.
I'm suspicious that the flow is still low (see video) even when revving?
Can anyone compare to what the flow looks like in their reservoir when idling?
Only things I can think of now are
replace reservoir
replace the ps pump even though I just rebuilt it and it doesn't leak
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 8:17 pm
by Tom
whalenlg wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 7:18 pm
Finished replacing the torn seal and rack back in the car.
Pretty much back where I started - steers back and forth easily on the stands, but when go out for a drive it is very heavy and spurts power every so often.
I'm suspicious that the flow is still low (see video) even when revving?
Can anyone compare to what the flow looks like in their reservoir when idling?
Only things I can think of now are
replace reservoir
replace the ps pump even though I just rebuilt it and it doesn't leak
My pump is sitting on my bench if you want to try it...
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2026 2:26 pm
by whalenlg
Thanks for the loaner - but no change in behavior.
I also blew compressed air into the return line, through the rack and pressure line and there are no obvious blockages.
At this point, I think it's time to get a rebuilt rack + pressure line + return line to eliminate the rest of the potential issues.
Any recommendations for the pressure and return lines that connect to the rack?
Cohline vs OEM?
(I've seen Hamburg and Uro, but I think I'll keep my distance).
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:32 pm
by rheidtman
I rebuild the 944 racks and have a number of cores on hand...
Rate is $375 plus a core charge, or return of your old unit. PM if you would like more info.
Rick
Oak Creek, WI
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:48 pm
by Tom
rheidtman wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:32 pm
I rebuild the 944 racks and have a number of cores on hand...
Rate is $375 plus a core charge, or return of your old unit. PM if you would like more info.
Rick
Oak Creek, WI
Does this sound like a bad rack to you?
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2026 6:38 pm
by Damo
@whalenlg have you replaced the reservoir? It's a consumable item as it has a filter in the bottom. Easy to find as it's common across many Euro cars.
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2026 11:12 pm
by whalenlg
Damo wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 6:38 pm
@whalenlg have you replaced the reservoir? It's a consumable item as it has a filter in the bottom. Easy to find as it's common across many Euro cars.
Yes - I swapped in a new reservoir when I tried Toms known good pump.
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2026 5:39 pm
by rheidtman
Tom wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:48 pm
rheidtman wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:32 pm
I rebuild the 944 racks and have a number of cores on hand...
Rate is $375 plus a core charge, or return of your old unit. PM if you would like more info.
Rick
Oak Creek, WI
Does this sound like a bad rack to you?
This is surely a brain teaser! My initial thoughts are it's not the rack, but rather an issue with failure to maintain pressure within the system. That said, it's also possible there is something amiss within the rack - spool valve? I also hate to throw parts at problems...
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2026 5:41 pm
by rheidtman
rheidtman wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 5:39 pm
Tom wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:48 pm
rheidtman wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:32 pm
I rebuild the 944 racks and have a number of cores on hand...
Rate is $375 plus a core charge, or return of your old unit. PM if you would like more info.
Rick
Oak Creek, WI
Does this sound like a bad rack to you?
This is surely a brain teaser! My initial thoughts are it's not the rack, but rather an issue with failure to maintain pressure within the system. That said, it's also possible there is something amiss within the rack - spool valve? I also hate to throw parts at problems...
I wonder if one of the metal lines or banjo fittings on the rack are bad/pinched...????
Also, confirm you have the lines properly connected in the right location... more than one person has installed some the lines in the wrong position. Check the two lines that connect to the two open ports in this pic... If you have them backwards, you will surely have all the issues you are experiencing.
Re: Power Steering Not Working but no visible leaks
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2026 8:08 pm
by whalenlg
Thanks for the suggestion - but I had them correct - pressure hose on bottom and return on top of the gear housing. The other 2 metal hoses matched pictures I've see online.
I am pulling all the hoses and will have them checked/rebuilt to rule those out. No visible pinches in the rack metal hoses and air flows fine through them.