Power steering gone on my lorry - should I still drive it?

[DuckToller]

Anyone know about these things? The steering on my lorry started making a grinding sound a few weeks ago, but I had to get somewhere so I ignored it and it drove well enough, despite the grinding noise going round corners (oops!).

Came back from holiday and drove it to a local venue yesterday, and there is no power steering left at all - I had to haul it round every bend and turn wide and slow everywhere.

So obviously it needs fixing at great expense, but can I still drive it at the weekend or will I do more damage? Supposed to be staying over and sleeping in it, which is even more of a pain.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

No No No
Its illegal and IMO immoral to drive an unroadworthy vehicle. The grinding noise was probably the power steering fuid getting low- most likely due to a leak- and now its completely gone. It would cause more expensive to drive it now as you are likely to b*gger the pump (if you havent already). GET IT FIXED!!

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I think your first consideration needs to be if it is safe to drive. Personally I wouldn't drive it.

 

[DuckToller]

Right - that's a no then!

It still steers as usual when I am driving, its just much harder to turn the wheel when you are going slowly, it's like my old lorry that didn't have power steering, but obviously it is only going to get worse so I will dig out the tent.

Thanks!

 

[angela_l_b]

My power steering pump (only in a 3.5 van, not a lorry) went a few months ago. I played it safe and called for recovery. When I got home i asked the mechanic if it was safe to drive home and he said it would actually have been fine, just heavy to steer. I drove it to him to be fixed (only about 5 miles) and it was ok, just very heavy when going slowly. i wouldn't do a long journey like that but apparently it doesn't do any damage to the van.

 

[Ludi-doodi]

QR

Check your power steering fluid. It might just be that it needs topping up.

 

[DuckToller]

That's handy to know - hopefully I haven't knackered it completely then. Will end up with arms like Popeye if I drive it anymore though!

I have just rung garage and they said they would send a man out to see if the fluid needs topping up (non mechanical OH refuses to try!). Hopefully I won't then have to pay to have it taken to the garage - that will be £300 on top of the work.

 

[cariadssogreat]

Having had a similar thing with my car in the last week - I am afraid vehicles do not just "use" power steering fluid. There is always a problem behind it - sorry.

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

could it just be that the power steering fluid has run dry and needs topping up.

I know when the power steering fluid in my jeep ran dry it did the same but once topped up was fine.

 

[qwertyuiop]

In a word no. If it hits a pot hole, it could break your collar bone. Apart from that, go ahead...

 

[burtondog]

My power steering went on my 3.5ton on the way to RC camp a couple of years ago. I made it to camp. Called recovery, they couldn't fix it there and then so suggested I just drive it home carefully at the end of the week's camp. I drove the hour to home ok, it was just much heavier than usual then got it fixed locally asap. I think it cost me about £300 to get and fit a new steering pump.