Hi Bricksters,

First of all the car is a 1984 240 wagon automatic. I have a problem that I believe to be power steering related. Yesterday I replaced all of the brakes and calipers on the car and both engine mounts. (The car was in an accident and both mounts sheered off). I've done this job many times and have worked on 240's for at least 20 years so I have some experience with them.

Anyway, shortly thereafter, I lowered the car to the ground and drove it for a good half hour. No problems. Then I noticed as the car sat idling and I turned the wheel side to side, the entire car would shudder and shake. So I did some checking underneath. No bent or crushed power steering lines. No leaks. No visible damage. I then replaced all 4 belts in the car thinking that the power steering belt might be slipping. I replaced the low pressure hose and flushed with synthetic ATF and bled the system as follows: raise car, turn wheel right to left many times to bleed air. I loosened the high pressure hose and checked for bubbles there as well. By the way, no grabbing or shudder with car in the air. Problem only occurs when car is on the ground and steering is under load. Also no problem driving car. Steering feels normal.

Anyway, all of the above made no difference. With wheel turned slightly in either direction (not even full left or right) car still shudders like it's coming apart.

Tie rod ends are new. Ball joints look okay and don't seem to have any play. Upper strut mount rubber on left is cracked but from my experience that would not cause this horrendous vibration at rest.

I have to think it's the power steering pump or rack that coincidentally has decided to go out but I don't want to just replace parts at this point without some educated input from the forum.

Anyone had this happen and if so what could it be?