Steering Problems: Symptoms of a Faulty Gearbox/Pump

Hi everyone,
I'm having problems again with my Golf 3 Variant (AFN). On Saturday, while driving in a tight right-hand curve, the steering suddenly locked up. I couldn't turn the wheel any further, or it was so difficult that for a moment I thought it was completely stuck. Now, when I'm steering, I constantly feel like it's heavier, or I can feel the road more. I can't really explain it, but the steering wheel feels strange while driving, and it vibrates at low speeds (50 km/h).
I checked all the bearings on the front axle, but I didn't find anything unusual. I re-tensioned the belt on the power steering pump because it was very loose (about 15mm of play). The pump itself looks extremely corroded. It's better after re-tensioning, but not completely fixed yet!

Could the problem be caused by the pump, or is it more likely to be the steering rack? How can you identify a faulty steering rack?

Greetings.
Reuselkopp.

reuselkopp wrote:

Could my problem be caused by the pump? Or is it more likely to be the steering gear? How can you identify a defective steering gear?

Have him drive down a long, winding mountain road in low gear, and then, for comparison, stop the engine.
Warning: After a few braking maneuvers, the BKV (brake fluid) reservoir will be empty -> apply the brakes more forcefully, or perform test braking maneuvers to get used to it!!

Of course, the steering is also considerably heavier.
If the steering wheel remains smoother or the steering feels less jerky when the engine is off, then the problem is likely with the pump or the "control unit" (I don't know the correct term) located on the steering column.

Hi,
I think it's the power steering pump. Does anyone have the part number for it?

Greetings.
Reuselkopp.

How about:

Water in the servo oil is freezing into crystals, causing "blockages".

Is that possible?
Just a thought, before you start replacing all sorts of parts.

m;

Hi,

It could also be that the serpentine belt is worn out! As far as I know, the power steering pump is not driven by the serpentine belt. Oil is, of course, another possibility.

How about the play in the steering when the car is stationary, with the engine running or turned off? Also, is there any cracking sound when turning the steering wheel?

Greetings.
Okay, here's the translation:

Achim.

Hello.

I once experienced a situation where the power steering failed while taking a sharp turn, and I could only maneuver the car around the corner by applying torque. As AchimTZR already mentioned, the cause was a slightly worn serpentine belt. After replacing it, the problem no longer occurred. You could try adjusting the tension first, if the belt looks to be in good condition externally.

I can confirm that I experienced the same issue. In some curves, the power output was almost non-existent. I then replaced the serpentine belt, and the problem is now resolved.