djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

my very first mod...should have been cake..and it was
fstb..everything went smoothly. I had to disconnect a plug near the passenger strut tower in order to get the bracket on..but reconnected it once i got the bracket on. bar is tight, nuts are torqued to 35 lb/ft
now...my power steering is TIGHT...really hard to turn...harder than my '90 sentra that has manual steering...what could the problem be???
please help...

Maxxxed

iTrader: (3)

Try torquing it lower... like 30 lb/ft.

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

ok...now the bar is off and the nuts arent torqued at all the steering is reallllly tight...im scared now

Triple8Sol

iTrader: (29)

Did u install it on perfectly flat ground?

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

not 100% perfectly flat but real close.. i just took it into the garage (which should be 100% and retorqued all 3 nuts to 30. still really tight. there was a connector near the drivers side bracket..it had a tube coming out of one end and wires out of the other. at first it was being crimped..but not anymore. do u think that got messed up and is messing with my power steering? im not sure what that part does.

looslip

iTrader: (3)

Did you torque the center nut on the strut insulator? You shouldn't have touched that nut if you did.

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

didnt touch the center one...just the 3 on the outside...anyone else? why would power steering just conk out?

† ErV †

could it be a coincidence? take it off and try the steering again. and then just make sure nothing is rubbing, although a LOT of rubbing must occur to have such an impact on a power steering system.

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

right now the bar isnt even on

fishhouse

iTrader: (1)

the fstb shouldn't effect steering in any way - aleast not like the big problem you are having.

i had to plug the plug also to get mine fitted in place - what is that plug anyways? could that have something to do with it?

bremner44

It's probably the tube that was crimped since that's the only thing that was affected. The tube probably has to do something with the power steering. Maybe you need a new one.

fishhouse

iTrader: (1)

my fresh copy of the Haynes Manual says reasons for "hard steering":

"1. Lack of lubrication at balljoints, tie-rod ends and rack and pinion assembly.
2. Front wheel alignment out of spec.
3. Low tire pressure"

not sure if any of those match your problem.

Ben

It could also be a broken power steering pump, broken belt to power steering pump, low power steering fluid, broken rack, etc.

I would inspect the power steering pump and make sure fluid is OK and that it is being driven by the belt OK.

My acura had the exact same symptoms when the rack broke. That cost a small fortune to fix.

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

stupid sun
ill be up at dawn to check everything out...wish me luck

MaxSE03

iTrader: (1)

The plug you disconnected on the passenger side, is the power steering oil pressure switch. If you haven't done so yet, disconnect it, check the pins, and reconnect it.

Not sure what is on the drivers side.

Matto357

Ahh, sounds like that would probably be the culprit. Hopefully it's just a bent pin and nothin worse.

fishhouse

iTrader: (1)

good call...sound like the prob

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

woke up at like 9 to get started...somehow i knew there would be a long day ahead of me. popped the hood...cut belt to the ps pump...saw it right away.
so...3 hours, $13.49 and a couple bruised knuckles later, power steering is back.
i must have kicked up a rock or something...it was a pretty clean cut...
the correlation between steering and fstb? the only thing i can attribute it to...is freak accident coincidence. thanks for your help guys...keep on moddin.