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Steering blocks, ps fluid sprays out pinhole in reservoir cap 200 1987

posted by Kindofhandy on Sat Feb 3 23:55 CST 2018
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Noob problem #4. Whack a mole continues.

I was hearing a rattle from the front right side of the car. Jacked it up, looked for the rattle. Tried rolling steering from side to side at the wheels. Engine is off. It has a hard time moving quickly from one end to the other. If I push hard enough to get to the end, there's a swishing noise like a release of built up fluid. If I go it fast enough, it sprays a fine mist of ps fluid out a pin hole in the reservoir cap.

The reservoir has been consistently at the full level for several months, since I got the car. Now it's way up the dipstick. Not down. Up. Fluid still looks bright red. Not dirty.

With the car running steering works okish. Recently it's felt reluctant and groany at either end, which I attributed to old car.

Recent work: today: IPD sport exhaust after axle pipe on original system rusted all the way through at the bend to the back muffler. Rear differential fluid. Partial oil change to check condition. A few weeks ago I was in to do the timing belt and replace harmonic balancer and also replaced the accessory bushings and belts and retensioned. Maybe I did something to the pump? But this is happening with the engine off.

I have an instrument panel from a newer 240 (after losing a battle with the original odometer) and the service light is coming on for the first minute or two of driving then turning off. I reset the service counter and it still happens.

Thoughts?

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Steering blocks, ps fluid sprays out pinhole in reservoir cap 200 1987

posted by james_a_sousa on Mon Feb 5 10:53 CST 2018
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last visit: Thu Oct 23 18:51 CST 2014

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Noise at the end of travel should be the relief valve and it should be sort of a squeal.

Perhaps your relief valve is faulty and fluid under pressure is getting past seals and ending up in the reservoir.

They do not provide a relief valve unless it is needed to protect something.

As someone who has had a couple of hard pipe, high pressure leaks, I know that there is enough pressure to blow all the fluid through a pinhole in about two seconds!

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Steering blocks, ps fluid sprays out pinhole in reservoir cap 200 1987

posted by jwalker on Sun Feb 4 08:50 CST 2018
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last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014

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Don't know what your problem is. Do have a couple suggestions though: Since it is somewhat stiff, the first thing I would do is check the steering mechanicals for any binding components or damage. Another thing you can try is lubing the steering shaft u-joints using WD-40. Those tend to bind with age, rust and corrosion and cause funky steering.

Have you tried flushing and replacing your PS fluid yet? That can also cure a lot of problems. I suggest using synthetic. I flushed the PS fluid in my 850 and replaced it with Mobil 1 synthetic ATF. That stopped the rack seals from leaking.

Oh, be sure and replace the cap too....:)

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Steering blocks, ps fluid sprays out pinhole in reservoir cap 200 1987

posted by Kindofhandy on Sun Feb 11 14:28 CST 2018
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Thanks for the ideas. I went ahead and cleaned and lubed a joint thickly caked in who knows what. Then I flushed the system with about a quart and a half of Mobil 1 full synthetic. First I tried the baster approach then disconnected the return line and belt and flushed by turning the pulley using an attachment on my cordless drill (couldn't get enough spin by hand to evacuate), periodically turning the wheels. This does seem to have helped; I haven't recreated the pinhole spray. The steering still seems cranky, but it's better. It may be the rack is shot. Or maybe it has something to do with my latest discovery - the strut tower is domed up on the inward side creating too much negative camber to adjust out. I imagine that might create some excessive pressure on the rack.

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Steering blocks, ps fluid sprays out pinhole in reservoir cap 200 1987

posted by jwalker on Mon Feb 12 06:43 CST 2018
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last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014

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Domed Strut tower: Not sure what you mean?? Is it protruding?

While there, did you look at the upper spring seat/mount? It that is bad that might be the cause of the "doming". On a 240 it is hard to see, but is the spring seat rubber shot? You can test it by putting a big wrench on the upper nut and twisting. If it twists easily with little or no resistance the spring seat is shot. If it is as bad as it sounds that would definitely affect the alignment.

Now that you've flushed the fluid, with time the steering might still improve some more as the synthetic does its thing...

Also, before condemning the rack, have you tested the inner and outer tie rods for play?

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Steering blocks, ps fluid sprays out pinhole in reservoir cap 200 1987

posted by Kindofhandy on Tue Feb 13 12:49 CST 2018
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Good questions, thanks. Yes, the tower gently mushrooms on the engine side. There is evidence of body work on the fender but I never noticed this until new tires were being installed.

The strut mount is probably shot. It rattles on that side over bumps. I attributed it to blown strut. A new set of uro strut mounts is waiting on my front step today. I may find some junkyard strut assemblies too.

My plan now is to bend or pound the top into place. I'm hunting for a body shop that will pull it affordably.

I'm thinking of reinforcing the repaired tower with a set of the IPD GT strut tower reinforcement plates and maybe a Kaplhenke strut brace.

The steering is improving. It still squeals at the ends so perhaps the relief valve is worn. I have jiggled the outer tie rods by hand and don't detect any play.

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Steering blocks, ps fluid sprays out pinhole in reservoir cap 200 1987

posted by jwalker on Thu Feb 15 07:00 CST 2018
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last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014

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Yeah, rattles over bumps are probably a blown strut. Bad mounts usually squeal or groan. The doming does sound like some body damage in the area but, to be sure, I'd still check all the strut mounting points to make sure they are tight and aligned correctly.

Finding quality replacement strut mounts are an ongoing issue with 240's. Everyone says what's out there is junk. If you can find a good low mileage boneyard car, you might consider taking everything. Struts, mounts the whole shabang.... You can always replace just the inserts.

I'm not familiar with the pressure relief valve. I've always thought that the noise at the end of steering play was simply an old, noisy PS pump. Where is the relief valve?

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