Very weird issue with my 07 e90. I could use some expert advice from you guys.
Noticed an issue where my power steering feels stiff and the steering wheel doesnt come back to center after a turn. Like if I'm making a right hand turn and let off the wheel typically it would center itself or at least return very close to center. Right now I have to help it return to center. This behavior is identical making both right and left hand turns. Theres no rough spots or binding in the wheel, it's just stiff.
Driving down a straight road I feel like I'm always correcting the wheel. In the past I could cruise the speed limit with one finger on the wheel keeping it straight and now it takes a firm grip on the wheel and continous corrections to keep the the car centered in my lane. It feels like the alignment is off, but I had that checked and nothing was out of spec. When lifted in the air I'm able to turn left to right freely with the engine on and off.
I've checked PS fluid level and topped it off. No bubbling/cavitation. The fluid is moving around in the reservoir but it doesnt seem like theres a ton of flow going on. My other vehicles have a nice current of fluid moving around in the reservoir.
The power steering is assisting, but I'd guess it's around 50% capacity. Zero whine from the pump and behavior is the same when hot and cold. I sprayed the universal joint at the steering rack with silicone lubricant and that didnt seem to help.
This seemed to appear after I lost the water pump and had the car towed home. My first thought was the tow truck driver knocked the alignment out but that was verified to be in spec. No loose ball joints, bushings or anything in the suspension geomerty.
Vehicle is an 07 with 98k miles. Pump, rack and everyting else are stock. Mechanically the car is stock, no aftermarket suspension.
Noticed an issue where my power steering feels stiff and the steering wheel doesnt come back to center after a turn. Like if I'm making a right hand turn and let off the wheel typically it would center itself or at least return very close to center. Right now I have to help it return to center. This behavior is identical making both right and left hand turns. Theres no rough spots or binding in the wheel, it's just stiff.
Driving down a straight road I feel like I'm always correcting the wheel. In the past I could cruise the speed limit with one finger on the wheel keeping it straight and now it takes a firm grip on the wheel and continous corrections to keep the the car centered in my lane. It feels like the alignment is off, but I had that checked and nothing was out of spec. When lifted in the air I'm able to turn left to right freely with the engine on and off.
I've checked PS fluid level and topped it off. No bubbling/cavitation. The fluid is moving around in the reservoir but it doesnt seem like theres a ton of flow going on. My other vehicles have a nice current of fluid moving around in the reservoir.
The power steering is assisting, but I'd guess it's around 50% capacity. Zero whine from the pump and behavior is the same when hot and cold. I sprayed the universal joint at the steering rack with silicone lubricant and that didnt seem to help.
This seemed to appear after I lost the water pump and had the car towed home. My first thought was the tow truck driver knocked the alignment out but that was verified to be in spec. No loose ball joints, bushings or anything in the suspension geomerty.
Vehicle is an 07 with 98k miles. Pump, rack and everyting else are stock. Mechanically the car is stock, no aftermarket suspension.
