I know this is a long read, but hopefully someone has the time to help me.

1990 Honda Civic LX.

I already replaced CV axles, Outer and Inner tie rods, lower ball joints, sway bar links, and bearings on BOTH sides. And topped off power steering fluid.

It's hard to describe the issue, but I'll try my best.

Sometimes the steering wheel is extremely hard to turn but only to one direction. It kind of feels like there's no power steering fluid, but you can turn the other way fine.

After you continue to turn the wheel, I often hear a loud single pop/click sound, and then it becomes easy to turn the wheel again.

Sometimes it's only difficult to turn the wheel to one direction, while other times it's difficult to turn both directions, (but not as bad as when it's one direction). Sometimes it's feels pretty much normal, and it's not hard to steer. It's like it snaps in and out of it.

Another major thing I've noticed that might help diagnose:
​​​​​​This doesn't happen often, but every one in a while. As soon as I turn the key and start the engine, the steering wheel starts slowly turning to the left until the wheels are turned all the way left. I don't touch the wheel or anything, I just turn the key and it slowly steers left while in park. It's only happened a couple times. But the difficulty steering is almost every drive.

I was also swaying from side to side really bad, especially at highway speeds. It would happen more on bumpy roads, or when I would run over a crack in the road, etc. It's kind of just swaying from left to right a little bit, and straightens out when I slow down. I just replaced the second CV axle today, so I'm not entirely sure if the sway/wobble has been fixed by that but I don't think it has. The old axle was still in somewhat decent condition.

I ordered new upper control arms/ball joints for both sides. Maybe this will help the swaying?

Could any of these symptoms be caused by overtightened upper control arm bushings (I redid the passenger side recently)

I'm guessing I need a new rack and pinion, what do you guys think?

BUT HERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO LOOK INTO:


This seal from a hose leading from the reservoir to the power-steering pump has always leaked a bit. Do you think that this leak could have allowed air to be sucked into the power steering lines and that could be what causes my issues? (Like if there's air in the brakes, they won't work) Do my symptoms sound like air in the lines?

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO TAKES THE TIME TO READ ALL THIS AND HELP. ✝️🙏🏻

 

Careful with the parts cannon. Usually you just end up with a bunch of shiny new parts and the same problem.

Sounds like a pump/pressure issue. Have you ever replaced the lines or swapped the rack out? Make sure everything is tight too. Additionally, are you using the Honda specific power steering fluid?

 

The rack was the next thing I was gonna change, but I was wondering if the problem was from my power steering pump/hoses. I have a leak from a connection at the pump that isn't all the way tight (I think there was a stripped bolt or something) and was wondering if that could have introduced air into the power steering lines? It's the hose that leads from the reservoir to the pump, and connects with two 10mm bolts. Fluid can be seen leaking out of this seal. Could air have gotten into the lines this way? Does this sound like a possibility, and if so how can I check for this?

I do use Honda specific fluid.

 

Well it's a hydraulic system, so air in the system would cause an issue. Do you see bubbles forming in the resevoir?

 

I tightened up the connection that was causing the leak, and attempted to bleed air from the system.

I follow r instructions from a video I watched:

1. Jacked up both front tires
2. Removed reservoir cap
3. Topped off power steering fluid
4. Turned the steering wheel all the way left and all the way right 20 times
5. Replaced the cap, started the car, and turned the wheel a couple more times
6. Turned off the car and checked the resivoir again
7. Repeated 2-3 times

I noticed some tiny bubbles after the first 20 turns of the steering wheel, but it would clear up after some more turns. What was confusing to me was that after I start the car and turn it off, the fluid would drop below the minimum level. But after turning the wheel back and forth 20 more times(with car off) the level would be back high again. But as soon as I start the car it drops. And after I start the car, the resivoir has a bunch of tiny tiny air bubbles, but I wouldn't call it foam.

It was getting really annoying because I turned the wheel back and forth over 100 times total and I would think if there was air in the system that should have removed it. But every time I start the engine the bubbles return. And I can't tell if I need more fluid because when the engine is off the fluid seems fine but after starting the engine and turning it off the fluid level looks low again.

It is easy to turn the wheel when the car is jacked up but still difficult to turn when I lowered it. My attempt at bleeding air made no difference to my problem.

 

Remove the powersteering belt from the pump and try turning it. It'll be harder to steer ofc, but if it's consistent then you know it's pump related. If the steering problems persist then its suspension/rack related.

 

The problems persist even when the engine is not running. It is very difficult to turn the wheel and then a sudden pop sounds and the wheel loosens up again. This happens even when the engine is off, so the power steering pump wouldn't even be running. Does this mean the problem is probably rack and pinion and not the pump?

If both tires are jacked in the air it is very easy to turn the wheel.

How can I make sure there's not still air in the lines/ check for an air leak?

And how do I know if I have enough power steering fluid because it looks full, but after I start the engine it drops low. But after turning the wheel a couple times with the engine off, it looks high again.

Thanks 👍🏼

 

Well if it's happening without the pump turning then it's likely not a pump issue. Only other thing you could try is disconnecting the lines to the rack and see if the problem persist. Otherwise, change the rack

 

Thank you for the help, I was kind of thinking the same thing. I'm probably gonna change the rack and if it's still happening, I'll look into the pump.

Upper control arms I previously ordered are arriving today. Do you have any tips on tightening the bushings correctly?

 

Tighten any suspension bushing bolt with it under load. Put the part on, jack up the corner so it just barely comes of the jackstands then tighten to spec

 

I got the new rack and pinion in and all the problems seem to have gone away. Just need to watch for leaks now.