Grinding steering

[Cieran]

okay ive taken the ka out for a spin today and then stopped in morrissons garage to get some petrol and my steering just started griding so i went inside and bought some steering fluid and filled it up and its still making the noise so i will wait it out till tomorow to see if it leaks, if so then ive got a little problem then if not then im not sure :/

but if anyone thinks they know whats up with it please please tell me many thanks

[justaddmud]

odd for steering to grind, used to drive a 320i bmw with a knackered rack (leaked it all out after 2 days) and it never used to grind, used to make some horrid noises from the pump running dry but never a grind

does it make the same grind with the engine off, could be a steering collum bush.

[Cieran]

nah it doesnt mate :/, only when the engines on

Ive bought some power steering fluid and it still makes the noise, becasue i thought it might of been the power sterring fluids low but its still making the noise, the only thing i could think it would be is a leak or worst case power steering pump is knackered :/

[sittingbudda]

these maybe of use:

http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jspa?threadID=200270493&anticache=1279275999546
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=40806
http://www.autoinsider.co.uk/problems/show.php?problem=1132
http://www.myka.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?163177
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081205141400AAFkqMn

Sounds like steering rack problems are quite common on the Ka.

[Cieran]

one of the forums says that it could be "air bag slip ring" and that it might need lubing, so im wery of taking a look myself of taking it to a garage :/

[sittingbudda]

I cant comment on how easy it is to access this, but on the whole the KA is a very simple car to work on. Also read about the £900 bill to replace the steering racK

[Cieran]

yeh i saw the £900 steering rack something i dont really want to be replacing just yet. but obviously if it is the steering rack then i have to spend out for it

and i might be getting a job at the nhs hospital looking after old people "lol" but i will be getting about £900 - £1000 a month so not all gloom and doom

[justaddmud]

i think £900 is worst case, ford doing it at ford prices

the ka is basically a mk4/5 fiesta with a smaller body

good garage should be able to change that in two hours + rack

or, what the cheap skate in me would do

how bad is the groan? you would soon learn to live with it

[Cieran]

the grinding isnt to bad you can only hear it if your stationary but its annoying knowing its there lol

[Cieran]

ive found out my problem on my steering.

thank the holy god that its not the steering rack, but its the steering pump and the steering pipe is leaking so its not a worst case scenario BUT!!!! i will not be getting my car back till monday