Notchy steering

[twoscoops]

Hi guys

I have just got a '92 325i convertible and the steering is pretty horrible. Really heavy at low speed and notchy when turning. I've changed the ATF which looked like water and that has improved things slightly but it is still bad. Steering also feels very light and twitchy from 60mph up.

Anybody got and thoughts as to what the problem might be???


Cheers

Tim

[twoscoops]

Anybody got any thoughts? Cheers

[sweep]

Power steering pump?

[Jim320i]

Checked the belt?

[twoscoops]

Belt looks grand mate. Not sure about pump how would you check it ?

[Brianmoooore]

Light and twitchy at speed suggests to me that the tracking of the front wheels might be toed out, so I'd get the string out and check the alignment.
You can't really check out the pump, other than by changing it. If that doesn't cure the problem, then it must be the rack, unless there's something very seriously wrong mechanically with the steering.

[twoscoops]

Is the pump something that an amateur like myself can change easily or is it better dealt with at a garage?

What sort of price am I looking at to replace it?

Cheers

[thebloosman]

Could be sllight play in ball joints, and any wear on inner front tyres is a dead givaway.... Id say" It's definately the tracking!" I had this problem recently after changing TCA's, drive like it was on ice! Be worth getting it checked! Save your tyres...