Squeaky steering

[The Restorer]

OK. Since I bought my car, I have been get some funny noises from my steering. This tends to happen when the car has warmed up a little and when I'm trying to park.

I can generally just about hear the power steering as I turn, but part way through it'll make a much louder noise, almost as rubber going against rubber. If I turn the steering back the other way, I can get the noise at the same place.

The car had new shocks fitted just before I bought it and I had the power steering fluid replaced today aswell, as it was quite dirty. This was done by a 'japanese specialists' place today, who could not find anything else wrong with the steering.

If no-one has any ideas, then I'm living in Poole, so any recommendations on where to take it (Mr T or L or any one else) would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Martin F]

Have you had your head under the bonnet whilst the engine is running and somebody has turned the steering to full lock ?

Reason being is I wonder if it is your belt slipping, although the Jap specialist should really have spotted that.

[The Restorer]

Which belt would that be? ?We did try that, I'm sure. ?His head was under, car was on ramp.

His first suggestion was to grease the top of the shocks, because he believed this was rubbing (with the top mount I presume).

They did say, they were going to look at the power steering belt and tighten if needed. ?That looked fine and it had a hydrualic tensioner anyway.

Edit -- Power steering belt??? He may have been thinking about the alternator one as well. I can't see a PS belt on the micro-fiche so may have misunderstood. The alternator belt was changed, but I'm pretty certain I'd know if that was making the noise (more in humid and it would be at startup)

[Martin F]

I was just about to say you can't tighten the auxillary belt.

Think you need to try and narrow down where the noise is coming from a bit more, ie is it the rack, the pump or suspension. These types of noises are a real PITA to diagnose over the net.

[The Restorer]

Ta!!! I'll see if I can narrow it down, but I ain't much of a mechanic.

One thing I did check is to make sure theres no rubbing, which I wouldn't expect with the car being all stock (including tyre sizes).