PAS too light - ideas please?

[kittie]

Hello thar!

I have a strange problem with my PAS - it feels way too light when driving at speed, and seems to have a rather bad dead spot in the middle. At slow speeds it is usually fine, but occasionally it will suddenly go very heavy as if all the assistance has gone. It used to feel like it had plenty of assistance when parking but had a nice resistance/feedback/feel and no dead spot at speed.

The PAS pump was replaced approx 2 years ago due to the original one hissing like a bastard. Fluid and belt are ok afaik. Car has had new shocks/springs all round and front top mounts about a year ago, and the wishbones and bushes were replaced a few weeks ago to resolve a problem I had with the tracking going out all the time/pulling about. Tracking has been done and the tyres are new all round. Oh and it's a 92 8v if it makes a difference.

I can't really pinpoint when the problem started, it seems to have been a gradual degredation but I am really noticing it recently since I've had the wishbones/bushes done (I presume this is just because the car is no longer wobbly so I'm concentrating more on the steering problem)

Any ideas as to what the problem may be? It's spoiling my drives out a bit at the moment   

[Ben Lessani]

Are your tyre pressures ok?

[kittie]

Yep they're fine, also the problem has existed with two or three different sets of tyres (different brands and sizes) so I'm fairly sure the problem doesn't lie there. Current tyres are all brand new as well 

I'm actually starting to want rid of the PAS but I know I would regret it with my weak girl arms whenever I come home and reverse onto the driveway!

[Jay]

What about the tensioner (if they have one) or the other round thingys (forgot the name again! but look like tensioners) the belt goes on?

[kittie]

HA! Ok I'll check all the round thingys 

But seriously, how do I check them exactly (may be obvious but I'm clueless)

[rubjonny]

when was the last time the alignment was checked?
at speed the pas shouldnt feel light, in my GTI it feels exactlythe same weight when driving as it does when parking, which is just about the same weight as my old manual rack was at speed

[kittie]

Well the alignment was done right after the wishbones were replaced which was just a couple of weeks ago, the car isn't pulling about when driving over bumpy bits as it normally does when the alignment is out so it *should* be ok but I couldn't swear to it! Just want to check things I can do myself before having to spend any money on it (am totally skint!)

I know there's definately something wrong as it feels completely crap compared to how it used to, almost like aquaplaning when you're not.

[rubjonny]

did the alignment include camber setup?

[kittie]

Hmm I don't think camber was checked, just tracking. How is the camber adjusted on the golf? The car is lowered on eibach 30-40mm springs, if that affects anything.

[rubjonny]

you crack loose the 2 bolts holdign the hub to the strut and adjust it there, lowering the car will throw it olut also potentially swapping the wishbones if the balljoints were not put back exactly the same as the old ones, plus accounting for wear on the old ones.  I think if camber is a bit positive it can cause light steering?  Not really sure hopefully someone who knows suspension geometry will comment