Sticky Steering

[PAH]

I’ve had a decent drive today 260 miles.
Still have this ongoing sticky or heavy steering.
Seems to get worse with time, so I’m guessing the issue is heat from the exhaust?
I’ve been told it’s not sticking steering issue but I’m not sure.
Could be steering shaft control unit?
Not sure but I would like to get it sorted.
2007 3.0si 52k miles

After research my cheapest option would be to try this mod first I guess?

I’ve been on my back on the floor removed cowl and have found the 2 Torx bolts.
Bottom one looks tricky I assume I buy a flexible Torx set to do this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403393478842?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=eujw-dniqbc&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=1beyh9gfsje&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Do I need any other sockets?
Thanks for any help
Cheers
Paul

 

[Southwestz4]

My e85 steering has felt 'sticky' for a while , also when warmed up , I slid back the steering rack gater and grease the rack and it feels better

 

[enuff_zed]

I’ve had a decent drive today 260 miles.
Still have this ongoing sticky or heavy steering.
Seems to get worse with time, so I’m guessing the issue is heat from the exhaust?
I’ve been told it’s not sticking steering issue but I’m not sure.
Could be steering shaft control unit?
Not sure but I would like to get it sorted.
2007 3.0si 52k miles

After research my cheapest option would be to try this mod first I guess?

I’ve been on my back on the floor removed cowl and have found the 2 Torx bolts.
Bottom one looks tricky I assume I buy a flexible Torx set to do this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403393478842?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=eujw-dniqbc&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=1beyh9gfsje&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Do I need any other sockets?
Thanks for any help
Cheers
Paul

Sorry, but I'm just a little disorientated as to what you're looking at changing?
Do you mean the Power Steering Motor?
If so, and you have the Torx head bolts then get a bi-hex (12-point) 8mm ratchet ring spanner and it'll fit a treat.
If it is this you're removing, get an indelible marker first and put a line across the motor, the intermediate ring and the shaft so you can line it all straight up on refitting.
If I'm guessing right then PM me your phone number and I'll explain in a lot more detail.

 

[PAH]

I’ve had a decent drive today 260 miles.
Still have this ongoing sticky or heavy steering.
Seems to get worse with time, so I’m guessing the issue is heat from the exhaust?
I’ve been told it’s not sticking steering issue but I’m not sure.

Sorry, but I'm just a little disorientated as to what you're looking at changing?
Do you mean the Power Steering Motor?
If so, and you have the Torx head bolts then get a bi-hex (12-point) 8mm ratchet ring spanner and it'll fit a treat.
If it is this you're removing, get an indelible marker first and put a line across the motor, the intermediate ring and the shaft so you can line it all straight up on refitting.
If I'm guessing right then PM me your phone number and I'll explain in a lot more detail.

Could be steering shaft control unit?
Not sure but I would like to get it sorted.
2007 3.0si 52k miles

After research my cheapest option would be to try this mod first I guess?

I’ve been on my back on the floor removed cowl and have found the 2 Torx bolts.
Bottom one looks tricky I assume I buy a flexible Torx set to do this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403393478842?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=eujw-dniqbc&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=1beyh9gfsje&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Do I need any other sockets?
Thanks for any help
Cheers
Paul

Sorry, but I'm just a little disorientated as to what you're looking at changing?
Do you mean the Power Steering Motor?
If so, and you have the Torx head bolts then get a bi-hex (12-point) 8mm ratchet ring spanner and it'll fit a treat.
If it is this you're removing, get an indelible marker first and put a line across the motor, the intermediate ring and the shaft so you can line it all straight up on refitting.
If I'm guessing right then PM me your phone number and I'll explain in a lot more detail.

I’ve no idea what the issue is, I’m considering selling it now my arm aches as the steering is so shite.

 

[PAH]

My guess it’s the PAS motor or the mod trick would fix it, the mod trick would be much cheaper, but I’m confused as my model shouldn’t suffer from the sticky steering of earlier models. So back to motor a costly exercise to remove, diagnose, which may not be the problem, re fit.
Fed up with it, tbh.

 

[enuff_zed]

My guess it’s the PAS motor or the mod trick would fix it, the mod trick would be much cheaper, but I’m confused as my model shouldn’t suffer from the sticky steering of earlier models. So back to motor a costly exercise to remove, diagnose, which may not be the problem, re fit.
Fed up with it, tbh.

How much do you want for it

Seriously though, removing the motor is about an hour, plus 30 minutes wait after disconnecting the battery. Only because it is so much easier with the seat and steering wheel off.
Pay £295 to ECU Testing via ebay. They will arrange collection. If they find nothing wrong they will return it to you and refund your money, minus the postage.
Shame you're so far away from me as I know how to do it easily now.

 

[PAH]

My guess it’s the PAS motor or the mod trick would fix it, the mod trick would be much cheaper, but I’m confused as my model shouldn’t suffer from the sticky steering of earlier models. So back to motor a costly exercise to remove, diagnose, which may not be the problem, re fit.
Fed up with it, tbh.

How much do you want for it

Seriously though, removing the motor is about an hour, plus 30 minutes wait after disconnecting the battery. Only because it is so much easier with the seat and steering wheel off.
Pay £295 to ECU Testing via ebay. They will arrange collection. If they find nothing wrong they will return it to you and refund your money, minus the postage.
Shame you're so far away from me as I know how to do it easily now.

Watched a video this morning guy cut the trim twice to remove shaft, can’t be right surely?

 

[enuff_zed]

No!
Seat out, wheel off.
Remove lower steering cowl and lower footwell trim.

If you're near my age, inform the fire brigade and have a phone to hand.

Get down in the foot-well, head on the pedals, feet up on the roll hoop.
You can see two torx bolts holding the motor in place.
As I said before, mark it all up first for alignment.
8mm ratchet ring on the bolt heads and remove them.
Carefully lower the motor down. If its a manual you have to push the clutch pedal fully down with the back of your head for clearance, so preposition a pad as it hurts!
disconnect each of the three plugs. The big at lower one can come of while still in situ, but the other two are very hard to see, o lower it down to get access. Careful as one of the looms is tywrapped to the motor so you need to snip them as it comes down. Just a careful juggling act.
Nothing else needs to be disturbed at all.

Disclaimer: I have small hands and cut my teeth on fixing Tornadoes in some very strange locations, so what seems simple to me may seem a challenge, but honestly it is easy.

 

[enuff_zed]

Thinking on a bit:
Have you tried the trick with adjusting the ring forward and back? Though this seems to be more for cars that exhibit the problem all the time, not just when hot.
Pretty sure I've read that units within the ECU on the Power Steering Motor get hot over time.
The one I did was an 06 facelift 2.5si, so don't think yours is beyond being the same thing.
In my case though it just packed up, with, in hindsight, a day or so of being a bit twitchy and random.

 

[PAH]

Thinking on a bit:
Have you tried the trick with adjusting the ring forward and back? Though this seems to be more for cars that exhibit the problem all the time, not just when hot.
Pretty sure I've read that units within the ECU on the Power Steering Motor get hot over time.
The one I did was an 06 facelift 2.5si, so don't think yours is beyond being the same thing.

In my case though it just packed up, with, in hindsight, a day or so of being a bit twitchy and random.

No, and this is the debate mine might be in the crossover period, so going back to my post the eBay link for tools should do it?

 

[enuff_zed]

Thinking on a bit:
Have you tried the trick with adjusting the ring forward and back? Though this seems to be more for cars that exhibit the problem all the time, not just when hot.
Pretty sure I've read that units within the ECU on the Power Steering Motor get hot over time.
The one I did was an 06 facelift 2.5si, so don't think yours is beyond being the same thing.

In my case though it just packed up, with, in hindsight, a day or so of being a bit twitchy and random.

No, and this is the debate mine might be in the crossover period, so going back to my post the eBay link for tools should do it?

OK then, well yes they should, but as I said, a simple 8mm ratchet ring spanner does the same and is much easier to get onto the bolt head.
Mine are Halfords Professional and are 12-point ones which is why I said get one of those. I cannot confirm whether a 6-sided one would fit ok.

 

[enuff_zed]

Thinking on a bit:
Have you tried the trick with adjusting the ring forward and back? Though this seems to be more for cars that exhibit the problem all the time, not just when hot.
Pretty sure I've read that units within the ECU on the Power Steering Motor get hot over time.
The one I did was an 06 facelift 2.5si, so don't think yours is beyond being the same thing.

In my case though it just packed up, with, in hindsight, a day or so of being a bit twitchy and random.

No, and this is the debate mine might be in the crossover period, so going back to my post the eBay link for tools should do it?

OK then, well yes they should, but as I said, a simple 8mm ratchet ring spanner does the same and is much easier to get onto the bolt head.
Mine are Halfords Professional and are 12-point ones which is why I said get one of those. I cannot confirm whether a 6-sided one would fit ok.

Morning
For some reason the link wasn't working for me yesterday and I made the assumption you were looking to buy a set of torx sockets.
Now I can see the link and yes that set would be perfect.
The only minor issue I can foresee is how stiff the joints are. You will be working at their full reach and when it comes to refitting the bolts you will probably need to put the bolt into the ring, offer it up and push on the head with a screwdriver while you tighten it. If the joint is loose this may give you a bit of grief, but a quick wrap with some tape should solve that.

 

[PAH]

No, and this is the debate mine might be in the crossover period, so going back to my post the eBay link for tools should do it?

OK then, well yes they should, but as I said, a simple 8mm ratchet ring spanner does the same and is much easier to get onto the bolt head.
Mine are Halfords Professional and are 12-point ones which is why I said get one of those. I cannot confirm whether a 6-sided one would fit ok.

Morning
For some reason the link wasn't working for me yesterday and I made the assumption you were looking to buy a set of torx sockets.
Now I can see the link and yes that set would be perfect.
The only minor issue I can foresee is how stiff the joints are. You will be working at their full reach and when it comes to refitting the bolts you will probably need to put the bolt into the ring, offer it up and push on the head with a screwdriver while you tighten it. If the joint is loose this may give you a bit of grief, but a quick wrap with some tape should solve that.

I thought you only had to loosen the 2 bolts not remove them then tap the ring clockwise about 15mm then re tighten?

 

[enuff_zed]

OK then, well yes they should, but as I said, a simple 8mm ratchet ring spanner does the same and is much easier to get onto the bolt head.
Mine are Halfords Professional and are 12-point ones which is why I said get one of those. I cannot confirm whether a 6-sided one would fit ok.

Morning
For some reason the link wasn't working for me yesterday and I made the assumption you were looking to buy a set of torx sockets.
Now I can see the link and yes that set would be perfect.
The only minor issue I can foresee is how stiff the joints are. You will be working at their full reach and when it comes to refitting the bolts you will probably need to put the bolt into the ring, offer it up and push on the head with a screwdriver while you tighten it. If the joint is loose this may give you a bit of grief, but a quick wrap with some tape should solve that.

I thought you only had to loosen the 2 bolts not remove them then tap the ring clockwise about 15mm then re tighten?

True, I was pre-empting having to swap the motor out. Hope it won't come to that though.

 

[PAH]

Morning
For some reason the link wasn't working for me yesterday and I made the assumption you were looking to buy a set of torx sockets.
Now I can see the link and yes that set would be perfect.
The only minor issue I can foresee is how stiff the joints are. You will be working at their full reach and when it comes to refitting the bolts you will probably need to put the bolt into the ring, offer it up and push on the head with a screwdriver while you tighten it. If the joint is loose this may give you a bit of grief, but a quick wrap with some tape should solve that.

I thought you only had to loosen the 2 bolts not remove them then tap the ring clockwise about 15mm then re tighten?

True, I was pre-empting having to swap the motor out. Hope it won't come to that though.

Ok simpleish step first
To loosen do I tap ring towards steering wheel or opposite?

 

[enuff_zed]

I thought you only had to loosen the 2 bolts not remove them then tap the ring clockwise about 15mm then re tighten?

True, I was pre-empting having to swap the motor out. Hope it won't come to that though.

Ok simpleish step first
To loosen do I tap ring towards steering wheel or opposite?

Sorry, not done the simple thing as mine was dead.
Look for bigwinn's thread as I think he was the latest one to do it.

 

[Joycey]

Also start with 5mm instead of 15mm, you'll end up with wandering steering

 

[thecremeegg]

I thought you only had to loosen the 2 bolts not remove them then tap the ring clockwise about 15mm then re tighten?

True, I was pre-empting having to swap the motor out. Hope it won't come to that though.

Ok simpleish step first
To loosen do I tap ring towards steering wheel or opposite?

It's clockwise so you push the bottom of the ring away from you - imagine looking at the motor straight on from the left if that makes sense?

 

[PAH]

Does anyone actually know what this does? Slackening 2 bolts and twisting the motor alters what?
Just curios but it seems to work for most drivers.

 

[Barty]

Does anyone actually know what this does? Slackening 2 bolts and twisting the motor alters what?
Just curios but it seems to work for most drivers.

I think it adjusts the pretension on the worm gear between the column and motor. Slight play causes vague steering or unwanted motor action from road input. Too tight and you introduce more sticky steering. Balance is key