plumsauce, I haven't actually tried a full flush and bleed. I'm not sure if this is something I'd want to attempt myself, because I hate disposing of fluids and making a mess.

If I did attempt it myself, do you know where I could get an appropriate plug for the P/S reservoir inlet?

On another note, what it is about luxury cars that always results in power steering problems? My two and only luxury cars ever have both had power steering issues (the other was a Lexus LS)!!

 

OK, well I did end up doing the power steering fluid. Had to remove part of the airbox to have enough space to disconnect the PS return hose.

I flushed about 3 quarts of fluid through there, so it should all be fresh fluid. It seems much better, but there does still seem to be a slight shudder. It seems to be more related to low idle when turning the wheel, though. I'm not sure, though. I will let you guys know in a few weeks if it worked or not.

Is this normal? I have trouble believing that nobody has ever solved this issue. If you search on the forums, lots of people have had the problem of chattering/shuddering power steering, but no solutions are ever posted.

 

Well, I drove it again today. It feels absolutely butter smooth most of the time, but sometimes when I am turning the wheel really fast in a parking lot it still does it a little bit. I guess I'm going to have to learn to live with it--maybe this is a problem with the rubber bushings and not the steering rack. The vibration/chattering has been cured in all other scenarios (used to do it when turning the wheel even at a moderate rate of rotation).

 

Mine has done this since new. It really hasn't been an issue though. Only happens when I am reversing and turning the wheel to the right at almost idle speed. A little shudder, but it continues to function. Doesn't bother me at all.

 

Thanks hlgeorge, this is exactly what I wanted to know. So I can stop worrying about it and blaming DB6 for telling me to put Lucas Oil and Lubegard in it?

Funny you say it is at idle speed and turning the wheel to the right. That is the exact maneuver I have to do to put my car into the garage!

 

Update, this has not helped one bit. I am about to give up on the power steering of this car.

Overall, I still love the car, but it is really not nearly as refined as other luxury cars in this class. But it still has a ton of character.

 

Why not take to do a dealer for diagnosis.
It sounds like you need a new power steering pump.

 

I had this problem at low speed mauvering, a kind of shudder on turning the wheel. I sucked out the fluid from the power steering reservoir and put in new Mobil 1 ATF, and I did it twice over two days. The problem disappeared and this happened four years ago.

 

Now that you guys mention it, I too notice under slow speed and idle, such as parking the car in a tight spot, the steering judders. Don't recall noticing it before.

It's at the dealer now for some warranty work and I was thinking of asking them about it.

So is it a fluid change or is it a pump or rack & pinion issue?

 

FWIW checked with the dealer this AM. They said the power steering was operating within spec. The judder at the end of each "lock" is due to pressure being released by the pump.

 

Just got some of the Lucas stuff for a creaking in my steering. Will try it tomorrow.

 

Do NOT use the Lucas stuff. That's where my problems with the chattering/stumbling power steering really started. The only problem I had before that was the squeaking/scratching sound, but the stumbling problem that replaced it was infinitely worse!