Power steering whine

[Timbo_Mint]

Hi

I've noticed the power steering has started to whine on my last few trips. Anyone any ideas what it may be?

[AMG Merc]

Timbo_Mint said:

Hi

I've noticed the power steering has started to whine on my last few trips. Anyone any ideas what it may be?

Apply silcone spray to the p/s belt and behold...




... silence (works 9 times out of 10)

[joust]

Or, your fluid is low. Top it up.

J

[Timbo_Mint]

Thank... I'd already 'greased' the belt but the reservoir was about half empty. I've topped it up and there's no noise. Great.

Out of curiosity why would a half empty reservoir cause a noise?

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Timbo_Mint said:

Out of curiosity why would a half empty reservoir cause a noise?

Usually with hydraulics it's because air gets into the system and the squeaking you hear is the compressed air moving through the pump/valves etc.

It's a well known Noble feature that if you pull a lot of big corning G's the PS fluid escapes from the reservoir. For track-days block up the breather in the top.

[ajg31]

I think there is something you can add to the oil to stop the pump cavitating/forming air bubbles. might be worth a look?

[Timbo_Mint]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Usually with hydraulics it's because air gets into the system and the squeaking you hear is the compressed air moving through the pump/valves etc.

Thanks Phil . Knowing or finding out things like this makes me happy (SAD!). For example it bugged me for two years not know why Maximum Torque does not come at Maximum Power!

As for the lose of fluid it could have been a gradual thing 'cus' with the weather being what it has the Noble has not see a huge amount of hard use. I'll be keeping an eye on it