I checked the rod ends and ball joints - the boots seem pretty soft, but not ripped or obviously leaking, neither joint appear greasable, unfortunately. Tried just spraying down the outer tie rod ends and the ball joints and no change in the steering. I've got the opposite problem, tight steering past the 10-2 o'clock range, wheel not returning to centre, memory steer as some call it. I took the car back to the alignment shop to get it aligned after all. The mechanic was pretty amazed that the steering had somehow fixed itself. He still thinks its the strut mount bearings, even though I told him the steering problem was fixed by spraying down the engine bay... Anyways, I've been systematically narrowing down where I think the problem is. It seems that spraying water down the front firewall, behind the TVIS, fixes the steering problem. Spraying water on the outer tie rod ends/ball joints and into the wheel wells doesn't. Something down there is causing my steering issues... ...a thirsty gremlin? :drool5
Difficulty turning and not returning to center are problems usually caused by worn out strut mounts. Which are no-where near the firewall, so I've got no clue why spraying water back there would fix the problem. Just thinking out loud here.
Ya, that's what's got me puzzled as well. The mechanic couldn't think of anything down there that would affect steering like that either, except maybe something with the rack, which is (should be) sealed...
Here's an idea for you. I'm running late for course one day so I rush out start the car and take off. I get to the corner to find the steering so hard that I thought the fanbelt must have came off. I got out and checked and everything was fine. I got back into the car and took off. It was still heavy but got progressively better as I carried on driving to course. End result cold engine = hard steering (in parts). Warm engine = mint as. Another thing to check would be enough steering fluid, it seems a no brainer but it's one of the things that happen (stiff/hard in parts) if running low on it. Harding
Thanks for the advice, I've been monitoring PS for awhile, full, clean and no changes. From a cold start, immediately after a hosing in the engine bay the stiffness dissapears. After a couple days, typically at the end of my work commute (~30 km) the steering stiffens and quite quickly loses it's ability to center. I used to live in the prairies, digging my car out in -40C, so I know what cold-stiff cars feel like. This is more a lubrication/binding issue somewhere in the suspension/steering setup.
