[Steering & Suspension] Lumpy Steering - What fluid is best?

[cancunia]

Hi, I'm having ongoing issues with the steering. It seems fine when warm, but lumpy / stiff when the weather is cold. I changed the fluid to ECP ATF DX III, things improved for a while but then went back to as before. I changed the oil again and the same thing happened so I'm wondering if I need something different, maybe fully synth oil?

Any thoughts welcome.

Thanks

[brodfather11]

The Universal joints in the steering column nice and free?.

[cancunia]

The Universal joints in the steering column nice and free?.

Yeah, checked that a while ago. I used chain spray to squirt some grease on the UJ.

Strange thing is that the steering gets better for a short while after putting new oil in, or when the weather is warm.

[polar]

I wonder if the pump pressure is on the low side or the oil is cavitating (filling with air bubbles for some reason)

[brodfather11]

I'm not so sure that different oil in the steering pump will make a noticeable difference, could be wrong again though.
 What about the other steering joints , t/rod ends / lower suspension joints and top strut bearing, A sticking/tight t/rod end if really tight will give a jerky feeling . A broken coil spring can also give that feeling

[yellow Peril]

Hi, I'm having ongoing issues with the steering. It seems fine when warm, but lumpy / stiff when the weather is cold. I changed the fluid to ECP ATF DX III, things improved for a while but then went back to as before. I changed the oil again and the same thing happened so I'm wondering if I need something different, maybe fully synth oil?

Any thoughts welcome.

Thanks

Nothing wrong with the power steering, common on all berlingo and Peugeot partners, Steering column universal joint is seized, look down behind the engine at the drivers side and you will see the steering joint connecting the column to the rack, spray this vigorously with penetrating fluid and the follow with oil, either a spray oil or drip, start the engine and work the steering back and forth, repeat until you feel the steering becoming lighter. once it feel better go for a short drive to confirm it all freed off, now pack the joint with a large wad of grease, re grease every year.

[cancunia]

A timely reminder for me to give an update.
My steering is now fine, I think it was a mixture of that UJ at the bottom of the column & old oil which I flushed via repeated filling / turning to full lock on both sides them emptying via a suction bulb. The UJ took a lot of time to get properly free, I used some WD40 to free it up, then bike chain grease afterwards for proper lube. Even then it took a couple of days to fully return to normal.