986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - The steering on my Cayman binds for a moment when turning left, any ideas?

steved0x · 08-21-2019, 05:24 AM

I'm posting here because I am out of ideas and not finding any good info anywhere. A new issue developed last week when I was at the track.

[Edit: 987.2 Cayman, 2009]

At slow speed, when turning left, the steering wheel would bind up for a moment when the wheel was turned about 60 degrees to the left. With a little push I could get past it and everything seemed fine.

More details:

Only happens at slow speed, like in the paddock
Happens on pavement or grass
No abnormal noise

When I got home and parked in the garage I moved the wheel while the car was idling (I was checking the oil, on the 987.2 the car has to be on and idling to check the oil...) and I could reproduce it then, but then the "binding spot" moved and now was at around 75 degrees of turning left.

A day or so later I checked the PS fluid, was at the correct level.
Then I lifted the front of the car and removed the front wheels to check the tie rods, steering gear, UJoint, etc. All of that stuff looked good and I didn't see any evidence of leakage or anything like that.

While the wheels were lifted, and the car off, I turned the wheel side to side. I "think" I lightly felt the bind the very first time I turned the wheel left, but can't be sure, but I could not reproduce after that.

I buttoned everything back up and took a test drive, the bind is back. I took it to a big parking lot and did some steering wheel lock to lock big turns, and during these active turns, I could not feel the bind. But when I straightened out for a bit before beginning the next sequence of turns, and then made that first left turn, I got the bind. But now it has moved a little bit further, now it is about 105 degrees.

Any ideas what that might be or where to check?

If it was the UJoint at the top of the rack where it meets the steering shaft I would expect it to bind in the same spot everytime and on multiple rotations of the steering wheel.

If it was something wrong with the gears in the rack I would expect it to be in the same spot everytime.

Maybe a piece of debris in the PS fluid in the rack that is clogging a valve or something? And it is moving around?

Can an air bubble in there cause a loss of power steering at a certain spot? But if so all my lock to lock driving should have flushed it out. The lock to lock driving did seem to move the spot so maybe the air bubble is moving?

I am probably going to end up taking it to a shop but wanted to see if anyone had any ideas or had seen this before.

Thank you

Steve

08-21-2019, 05:24 AM	#1
steved0x Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: FL Posts: 4,144	The steering on my Cayman binds for a moment when turning left, any ideas? I'm posting here because I am out of ideas and not finding any good info anywhere. A new issue developed last week when I was at the track. [Edit: 987.2 Cayman, 2009] At slow speed, when turning left, the steering wheel would bind up for a moment when the wheel was turned about 60 degrees to the left. With a little push I could get past it and everything seemed fine. More details: Only happens at slow speed, like in the paddock Happens on pavement or grass No abnormal noise When I got home and parked in the garage I moved the wheel while the car was idling (I was checking the oil, on the 987.2 the car has to be on and idling to check the oil...) and I could reproduce it then, but then the "binding spot" moved and now was at around 75 degrees of turning left. A day or so later I checked the PS fluid, was at the correct level. Then I lifted the front of the car and removed the front wheels to check the tie rods, steering gear, UJoint, etc. All of that stuff looked good and I didn't see any evidence of leakage or anything like that. While the wheels were lifted, and the car off, I turned the wheel side to side. I "think" I lightly felt the bind the very first time I turned the wheel left, but can't be sure, but I could not reproduce after that. I buttoned everything back up and took a test drive, the bind is back. I took it to a big parking lot and did some steering wheel lock to lock big turns, and during these active turns, I could not feel the bind. But when I straightened out for a bit before beginning the next sequence of turns, and then made that first left turn, I got the bind. But now it has moved a little bit further, now it is about 105 degrees. Any ideas what that might be or where to check? If it was the UJoint at the top of the rack where it meets the steering shaft I would expect it to bind in the same spot everytime and on multiple rotations of the steering wheel. If it was something wrong with the gears in the rack I would expect it to be in the same spot everytime. Maybe a piece of debris in the PS fluid in the rack that is clogging a valve or something? And it is moving around? Can an air bubble in there cause a loss of power steering at a certain spot? But if so all my lock to lock driving should have flushed it out. The lock to lock driving did seem to move the spot so maybe the air bubble is moving? I am probably going to end up taking it to a shop but wanted to see if anyone had any ideas or had seen this before. Thank you Steve Last edited by steved0x; 08-21-2019 at 05:44 AM.