hi

I have an manual 06 xb with 15k miles and latelty its gotten more difficult to turn the steering wheel

and to stop I have to press on the brakes harder than before. Is this a hydraulic problem and if so how do I check or fix??

Dealers here suck so I want to avoid that route

 

have you checked your power steering fluid? and sounds like you have no vacuum to your brake booster... (i'm just taking a stab at it...)

 

^ Do what he said. Check your vac lines to make sure the hoses are still fine.

 

where would I find the Vac lines?

and would any fluid be leaking because I havent seen any at all.

quick reply...thanks everyone

 

don't wanna bring this back from the dead, but i am ....

i'm getting the same problem. the steering wheels is like ... crazy hard to turn. what are the possible reasons?

 

it is called "you are a weak little b!tch and need to hit the gym" syndrome.

but on a serious note, i have no idea. it would have to be something to do with the power steering, so start there.

 

yeah ... that's what i fear. i guess i have to take it into jiffy lube for a quick diagnosis huh.

from what i've researched, it could be a whole slew of possible problems from the steering rack to loose bearings or dried grease or leaking fluid or cold fluid or etc ...

 

Crazy hard?.... ok.... I know it's kind off obvious, but is your belt still alive?

True story:
We did the poly end link bushings on my and a friends car, the next day he asks me if my steering is "hard to turn"

I say... well, no... it just feels a bit tighter I think.
He goes away.

A few minutes later he calls concerned "the damn poly bushes did something to my steering"

I tell him, no, if it's that bad it is an hydraulic problem. He insists ... "it's got to be the damn bushings we thight them too much"

I say, IT'S NOT the frikin bushings! be right there.

I get there, try to move the steering, it's a friking race car, the thing won't move while parked, I open the hood and see the shredded belt spinning around.

See... it was not the bushings

 

yeah i just looked under my hood, and i see one of the belts slipped off and is shredded. so i prob shouldn't drive the car right? is it safe to do so?

an how quick and expensive of a job (if i take it to a shop) is it to replace the belt? i have to drive home this wednesday, and i dont want fix this before then ...

 

If you need to drive it, cut the shredded belt completely off, the P/S belt only drive that so you can jsut drive w/o P/S w/o damaging the engine.

It will be harder to turh the wheel so that is a distinct negative.

The belt will be $10-15, and a shop shouldn't charge you more than a 1/2-1hr labor tops for it.