Porsche 944 - Power Steering System Overview: Parts, Issues, & Costs
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- Опубліковано 26 чер 2022
- This video provides an overview of the Power Steering System used in the Porsche 944, including a description of the main components, common failure points, and tips/recommendations for testing and replacing parts as well as their associated costs.
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Seriously, Your videos should be sponsored by Porsche.. you’re THE reference on UA-cam. Damn thanks
whenever i need to do a job on my s2 i always come to your channel. your videos are so clear. please keep it up, you're saving me 1000s in labour costs 😂
Yeah man! Many of these 944s wouldn’t be on the road without some DIY support. Glad you found it helpful!
All I can say is thank you. Firm hand shake for you sir for this quality content.
Damn, well done 👍
As every a comprehensive view - can’t thank you enough for the depth of content - best online by far
Thanks John!
Another awesome video, I did this job about eight months ago, I just followed the article online from Clark’s garage. Two areas were a pain in the butt, dealing with the power steering fluid, because it’s very messy, and getting the tie rods off the power steering rack, which I could not do, ending up cutting them off. And sending the unit back to 944 online. Thanks for the video.
Yeah the tie rod mounts are like peened into a little notch on the rack and need to be tapped back out before they’re loosened. The whole thing is a little annoying to deal with quite honestly. 😂 The system takes a beating and catches a bunch of water when driving in wet conditions, really locks things up down there. I’m glad you were able to get yours swapped out!
Excellent walk through. Thank you again for sharing!
Really great video, thank you!
Amazing knowledge of this car, truly.
dude u need to open an 944 shop.
Only if you come and work at said shop… having a bending robot on hand could prove to be useful. 😂
@@NC944er u r a pure talent man. Keep up the great videos.
Excellent video and very helpful.
Thank you!
My car ('88 951) released all its power steering fluid (OK, ATF) all over my driveway. I have to jack it up and find the source of the leak. Thanks again for all your videos! They are a great help.
Oh man, that stuff is nasty too! That sucks. Luckily most of the power steering components are reasonably priced, except the rack itself. Hoping is just a hose or something…
@@NC944er - I got lucky! It's just a hose that slipped off the hard line that runs along the crossmember. It's going to be a challenge with my big hands, may need to drop the rack to replace the hose... but at least the rack is OK!
@@jergervasi3331 Wells that’s good! There is a small line clamp on the top of the crossmember for that particular hydraulic line, sandwiched between the oil pan. I once removed that one with a small wrench by feel, because you can’t really see it with the space in there, but it’s doable. Good luck! 👍
Crazy good info
Hi, just found your channel! I recently bought a new to me 1987 944 and I can’t wait to get it out on the road and drive! I’m also in NC, in Charlotte. I can tell your channel will be a big help in maintaining my 944.
That’s awesome man, congrats on your purchase! Lots of fun to be had on the maintenance as well as the driving side. 😂 Let me know if you get stuck on anything and need some tips, I’m happy to help if it’s something I’ve dealt with before. Cheers!
Thank you I needed this!!!
Haha! No problem! 👍🏼
Thank you sir!!! Free knowledge is the best knowledge!!!! Stay blessed!!
You too Eddie, thank you!
you are extremely detailed in your repairs and fixing of the 944 absolutely only use your video and direction to restore my 88 944....
Thank you! The ‘88 is a great year to have with all of its updates over the earlier cars and fewer electrical gremlins. 👍🏼
You are very thorough
Rennbay and Pelican parts ordered today specifically for this. I had a large amount of liquid under my car and the start of a bunch of groaning. The previous owner told me he rebuilt the power steering before but we are finding out that he did a lot of stuff incorrectly. Looks like I have a project for next weekend! Thank you for all your videos!
Nice! The pump rebuild is fairly easy, but I have seen them closed back up with one or more seals not seated correctly. Surprises from prior owners are always interesting. My car was missing something like 26 random parts from the engine bay when I bought it and there were a number of loose bolts in various locations. 😂
@@NC944er Interesting that you say that - my car had several random loose and missing bolts as well. I did some easy work on the car but took it to a trusted shop to get the clutch done. When they were there they found lots of here and there items that needed to be addressed.
As usual, a really great video. But I have to say I was left waiting on some tips for actually removing the steering rack.
Yeah, I’m always balancing between things I’d “like” to do and things I “have” to do, and since work and family schedules have picked up recently, I haven’t had as much time to put content together. After setup, shooting, editing, and processing the videos, it takes 3-4 times longer than it normally would to complete the actual work on the car. I hadn’t initially planned on posting any video of the steering system stuff because I really just needed to get in there and get it done, but I had enough footage to put together a fairly comprehensive overview, so that’s what I did.
@@NC944er I totally get it man, and you're doing a fantastic job. Wasn't criticizing, just hoping for more help! Did you remove the rack with the engine in the car?
@@Berkes944 Yeah, the rack removal process is pretty straightforward, just messy in disconnecting the lines and draining of fluid. After removing the front sway bar and draining the system, loosen the nuts on the tie rod ends and pop them down with a tie rod removal tool, loosen the steering shaft from the steering gear at the top of the rack tower, then there are just four mounting bolts on the front brackets that hold the rack to the cross member. Due to oxidation, the steering shaft can cause the most frustration.
The write-up on Clark’s is helpful, steps 2.0-5.0, just no pictures - www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/steer-01.htm
Respect 👍
Another quality video. How did you go about getting the lower control arms and engine cross member so clean?
Hey Robert! I pulled the control arms and cross member from the car when replacing the rod bearings and oil pan gasket. While the parts were off the car, I had them glass bead blasted and coated in a satin clear. It turned out pretty well and was a good opportunity to rebuild the ball joints and replace the boots while I was at it. 👍🏼
Thank you for your clear and helpful videos.
If I ran PS fluid and the reservoir and pump are empty now, can I just switch to Dextron 3?
Hey! There may still be some old fluid in the steering rack and lines. You could do a bit of a flush by filling it with Dex3, then turning the rack lock to lock while running the pump to circulate things. Then drain the pump and reservoir a second time before a final refill with Dex3.
Was thinking about upgrading my 944 with powersteering - but I guess I’ll stay away from it after seeing all the parts needed and potential upcoming problems :D great video as always tho!!
Yeah, most people end up going the other direction. 😂 The power steering does make the wheel a little easier to turn, but it’s not over-assisted or super easy like systems in most modern cars, really it’s just a notch above a true manual system on these cars.
Spot on
Seeking a bit of advice. The pump on my 86 whines and groans when cold. What would you suggest I start with, the fluid cannister or a rebuild of the pump?
Hey! If you don’t have any service history on the car, I’d probably do both since the reservoir and the seal kit aren’t terribly expensive. I’d also want to ensure the fluid level is topped up, the fluid is clean, and there are no air bubbles in the reservoir fluid after running the car. Replacing the reservoir is a little easier than rebuilding the pump, so if you wanted to start there, you may see an improvement if the filter is really clogged up. Let me know what you find.
Hoping to find a solution for removing a stripped hex banjo bolt.
The Allen key banjo bolts can be a pain. There a few approaches you can take on a stripped fitting: 1. Sometimes you can hammer in an Allen key that is one size larger and get enough bite to loosen the bolt. 2. Tack welding a hex head nut on top of the bolt almost always works. 3. Notches can be cut in the bolt head using a Dremel or small grinding wheel to accommodate a flat head or Philips screwdriver. 4. You may be able to grip the edges of the bolt with a good set of vice-grips to break it loose. 5. I would reserve drilling out the bolt as a last resort given the potential to damage the threads in the steering rack. 6. My favorite - scrap the whole rack and hoses in favor of all new parts. 😂
Great video. I love my manual rack though on my 83. The driving experience is so awesome! I am curious how power steering is on this vehicle.
Thanks! The power steering offers a pretty good road feel on the 944, it’s definitely not over-assisted or super vague like the power steering on most modern cars, but is obviously a bit easier than the manual rack for low speeds/parking/etc. I’m shopping a manual rack solution at the moment, thinking about changing things up.
@@NC944er Oh man! I wish I would have known that. I just unloaded a perfect manual rack. Your videos are helpful, thorough and excellent. Especially the fluid ones. I recently switched to that Valvoline oil.
@@P1983sche Nooooooo! Haha! 😂 No worries… they are hard to come by though.
Porsche has actually recommended a fluid change in these Dex III based systems over time. Pentosin CHF 11S is a hydraulic oil that doesn't have the caustic properties that the old ATF does, and is a bit less problematic as a result. Dex III leaks tend to cause rubber components to swell and degrade on contact, with the most common victim being the right inner sway bar mount. It looks like yours has had some previous exposure as well, going by this video.
The newer oil may or may not be less harsh to the system seals, lines, etc over time. I guess one downside is it doesn't have that obvious red color to help identify leaks, should they occur. Pentosin CHF 202 should also be a fine substitute. It's designated for 89 and up cars with similar systems, but I doubt there were significant differences in the 944 power steering systems in the last couple years of 944 production, so either should be fine for any 944 power steering system.
No changes of anything else in the system are required. Just flush the ATF as best you can; fill and maintain as normal.
Hey Todd, thank you for sharing those comments… that’s great information to consider! I have seen a few examples of people having switched to the Pentosin fluid without causing any issues in the 944’s system, given it’s application in later ZF steering systems. I haven’t personally tried it though, so I wasn’t able to provide a first hand recommendation, but you may be right about my right, front bushing. I caught the pump fairly early in its failure and rebuilt it before it started to dump excessive fluid. I do know that bushing has had a good bath in motor oil from a failing oil pressure sending unit. 🤣
I’m currently eyeing a true manual steering option for my car, which would eliminate at least one future fluid consideration. 👍🏼
@@NC944er I've definitely thought about the manual rack conversion as well. The question of whether that project ends up as a modified, properly de-powered rack or an actual manual one with more turns lock-to-lock remains, but I'm leaning towards manual as I already run a smaller diameter steering wheel.
I look forward to another well-made video on the subject if that's where your car takes you!
@@laglord Soooo… I went to replace the swollen front sway bar bushing and come to find it’s the part number for the 26.8mm variant… car didn’t come with the sport suspension package though. I checked the other side and it’s the 25.5mm part. 😂 Measured the bar and it matches at 25.5mm, which appears to be the Turbo bar, since 87- NA came with 21.5mm. So I’m guessing that someone swapped in a Turbo bar at some point, but also improperly replaced the right bushing. Just when you think you’ve seen all the surprises. 🤣
Hi NC, I was curious to ask you after seen the power steering delete video, why you decided to delete the system? Yes, I know you mentioned you did not want to hassle with the leaks. But after remanufacturing the rack, replacing the seals on the pump and the pressure hose the system should be very reliable for many years. Besides, I have drove 944's without power steering and they are very, very uncomfortable to drive when parking or turning at low speed. Regards
And as always, excellent content and detailed explanation. Keep it up.
Hey! Yeah, pretty much for the reasons you mentioned… I grew tired of chasing down leaks and the manual steering fit well with my intent of creating a true analog driving experience for the car. I looked at some rebuilt power racks, but I was seeing quite a few owner examples where rebuilt racks were failing within 1-2 years. I will say that a true manual rack is a little easier to turn than a “de-powered” power steering rack because the ratio is different. I’ve found this setup pretty manageable at lower speeds and it offers great feedback through the wheel. At a complete standstill, two arms are often required, but as long as the car is rolling, it’s not too bad.
Would you recommend a complete flush when putting new fluid in? If so I assume I drain from the low pressure line
How does the fluid look now? If it’s clean and bright red, probably no need to flush. If it’s brown and cloudy, I’d do a flush. You can drain from the input line on top of the pump or use a baster syringe to extract the fluid from the reservoir. Once you’ve got it topped up, run the engine and turn the wheels lock to lock to move fluid through the rack. Then stop the car, empty the reservoir again, and top it back up with fresh fluid. It may take 2-3 cycles of this to get it looking clean again.
@@NC944er it looks like coffee lol. I'll prob just do a few cycles with a syringe to get it clean, though I do have a leak around the pump I have to trace down. Started squealing on start up this winter so new fluid and tension the belt a bit.
@@wills9487 LOL! Mine was basically a chocolate milk shake when I got the car as well. The syringe method will be the least messy option and there will be plenty of other opportunities to dump fluid down the road given the plethora of pump reliability issues. 😂
great video BUT I'm looking to delete the power steering all together and go to what you did (conventional steering)...therefore looking for parts list for that install please...
Hey John, I included four links in the last comment, which includes the manual steering conversion video as well as a link to buy the steering kit on eBay from the same seller I used.
Manual Steering Conversion - ua-cam.com/video/y7dDLdYPS-Y/v-deo.html
Manual Steering Kit - www.ebay.com/itm/115532024809?hash=item1ae63ecbe9:g:LeEAAOSw-iZcESTx
Machine Shop Website - mwthemachineshop.com/
@@NC944er so that (eBay item) is all i will need to do the switch? love that conversion...
@@johndeltoro7990 Yep, it’s a complete kit with new bushings. You can re-use the original rack mounts and the bolts for the intermediate shaft. In my case I replaced those since my old ones were a little rusty.
Once again, the timing of a new video guide from you pretty closely aligns with "next thing I gotta check out more thoroughly on mine".
Too funny! They all suffer similar ailments. 😂
On an old 944, the next thing you have to check is everything. Even the things you just checked.
@@NC944er Any insight on shocks/struts? I have what I believe we're factory option Koni Yellows that are shot. Can I just drop in a new insert? Or B6s? If so, how is it performed? No pressure to answer, just endlessly curious.
@@Cam-pe3nd Sure, if you check your options sticker in the back and find either codes M030 or M474, then Konis would have come with your factory build. If that’s the case, replacing them with new Konis would help maintain its originality and its value. Cars from 1983-1986 will feature the front shock insert setup and those can be easily swapped out. Cars from 1987 and later feature sealed struts and because the Koni sealed struts are no longer in production, the existing struts would have to be cut and converted to accept the inserts. Konis have a benefit over the Bilstein B6 in that the damping is adjustable, which is useful when moving from street to track situations, but otherwise people usually just set them to “street” and forget about it. The general consensus on the forums is that Konis hold up better over time and offer a more comfortable ride. To swap front inserts or perform the conversion, you’ll need to remove the struts from the car and have a spring compressor to remove the top hats. Outside of that, the inserts are secured by one bolt at the bottom of the strut housing and then they can be reassembled and reinstalled, finishing off with an alignment. The rears are super easy because they are just shocks, two bolts in and out, and done. This write-up from Paragon shows how the conversion and inserts are setup - www.paragon-products.com/kb_results.asp?ID=50
@@NC944er Oh boy, I have an 87. Having to cut and drill might be a bigger undertaking than I'm capable of. Who designed these cars? 😂
I love and hate your videos. Love all the great info. Hate how clean everything is. I spent 2 hours or more with the pressure washer, cleaning the underside of my car, and it still looks terrible.
Dry ice blasting is the secret, if you're lucky to get one or have someone around your area to do it for you.
@@johncary4302 I’ve watched some dry ice cleaning videos on P-cars and the process is amazing with stunning results! In my case, I had the control arms and cross member glass bead blasted while they were off the car and then coated in a satin clear.
@@NC944er Right on. I'm currently restoring my S and glass bead blasting all the aluminum I can. I hadn't thought about coating it though...I suppose that would really preserve it for a long time.
@@johncary4302 Be careful, it’s addictive! 😂 Especially powder coating, the parts looks so good after. I’ve found that the glass leaves the aluminum a bit porous and then it easily picks up and retains dirt and oils without some kind of coating on it.
same… my obsession of perfection after watching these videos :)
Another great video! There's a 12 year old who rebuilds the pump with the Rennbay kit in a 944 video. You might enjoy it.
ua-cam.com/video/NAko8HnJT4s/v-deo.html
Sweet! I need him to come help me out. 😂
Manual steering here I come lol
LOL! A wise choice… 😂
@@NC944er my rack dumps out the reservoir in about two weeks of just sitting
@@liamflynn6929 Oh wow! Yeah, maybe time for a change.
@@NC944er I work at an auto parts store and my manager found a source for a manual rack for $150-200 so I think it'd be worth it. I'd have to also source a steering shaft and euro tie rods since I have a late offset, but much better than a huge puddle
@@liamflynn6929 Nice! It’s looking like some of the early ‘83 manual racks can be sourced (rebuilt), but for over $1,000. I’m looking at a custom kit built from VW parts that may fit the bill, we’ll see how it goes.