power steering question

[WVcamry3sfe]

hey everyone. when I was autox'ing my camry this past weekend, I notice that sometimes when i go through a slalom, my steering sometimes gets very hard or next to impossible to do. I think it is the power steering going out when I put the car through hard manouvers like this. It costs me at least 2 seconds on my final run of the day last week.

my question is:

Is this a power steering issue?

and if so:

How might I go about preventing this from happening when I am autox'ing in the future?


thanks for your time!

[fredk]

you need to remember the car was intended to take people from state to state not slid around a parking lot, its probably the ps oil sloshing away from the hole in the tank, the oil in the oil pan is doing the same thing

[rockhard]

possibly could be your P/S Belt slipping, maybe you need a new one or the exsting one needs more tension

[white90dx]

Its due to the type of steering rack. It is what it is. Welcome to the world of trying to drive a family car in a performance manner. (I've driven later Camrys and they do the same thing)

-Charlie

[Tommy]

^yep.

Thats why the guys with older cars almost always go for a manual steering rack. Dont think it was an option on a camry though. you can disable it, but i wouldnt recommend it, youll just end up having to fight the steering like you are when your racing it all the time.

[fredk]

take the belt off while racing and rent some popeye arms

[white90dx]

There is an optional manual steering rack, from what I have seen/heard (seen options in parts choosers, etc.). If you want to go that route...

[Ferrat]

Hey,

Just to let you know i have a manual steering on my Gen 2 camry. Power Steering here in Australia was optional to about 1990 model (then become standard i beleive).

Manual Steering is great until you want to park :P, i am going to convert to power steering later tho.

Ask Toyota tho, if it was not an option there see if they will import some manual steering rack etc from Australia.

Cheers
Matt

[fabbb]

u might check the universal in the steering input shaft just forward of the fire wall. mine was binding up due to lack of lubrication. I applied some oil just to check it out and it made a world of difference. I problably should replace it, but i got in there with a small acid brush and grease and have had no problems since.
fabb