The most common cause of a complete failure of the power steering is a broken pump drive belt. Check the condition of the belt regularly - it may be worn out or loose. One of the signs of a loose belt tension is the appearance of a kickback (back push) on the steering wheel. This is usually most noticeable when the car is moving off, with the wheels turned all the way.
Maintain the correct fluid level in the power steering reservoir. If necessary, add only the fluid specified in the service manual. Keep in mind that the fluid intended for automatic transmissions cannot be used for all power steering systems. There are many different brands of fluid on the market. The wrong fluid can damage all the seals in the system.
Since the fluid is used not only as a working fluid of the hydraulic system, but also as a lubricant, it is very important that its level does not fall below the norm, otherwise the pump may fail. Also, keep an eye on the cleanliness of the fluid. Dirty or expired fluid will quickly destroy the pump and seals of the hydraulic system located on the rack mechanism, which will then require expensive repairs. Fluid replacement is rarely required. If you want to drain the fluid, you need to open the expansion tank cap, disconnect one of the system pipes and turn the steering wheel from side to side several times to squeeze the fluid out of the hydraulic system. There is usually no special hole for draining the fluid. New fluid is added through the expansion tank. As a rule, air locks form in the hydraulic system, which impair its performance. They should be removed. The easiest way to do this is as follows. Start the engine, open the expansion tank cap and bleed the system by turning the steering wheel several times from one extreme position to another. As the hydraulic system is pumped, the fluid level in the reservoir will decrease. Repeat this procedure until it stabilizes. Then add fluid to the required level and close the cap, after checking that the ventilation hole is not clogged (if it exists).
The most common failure of power steering is fluid leakage. With such a defect, cars usually fail technical inspection. Some old hydraulic systems allowed a small leakage of fluid through bearings, shafts, etc., since it is almost impossible to make them completely sealed. Regularly inspect the system units from all sides to promptly detect possible leaks from pipes and fittings, as well as from loosely fastened pipes and other parts.
Check to see if the tubes and hoses are rubbing against the chassis and suspension parts. A faulty hydraulic line can cause fluid to break through the covers. When checking, turn the steering wheel from one extreme position to the other. Small leaks can often be eliminated by adding special sealing additives to the fluid, which are commercially available. However, this will only be a short-term measure. If the pump is faulty, it can be repaired using a repair kit of new seals. Replacing the seals will not fix much if the pump is badly worn.
For those who like to do everything themselves, repairing the pump will not present any great difficulties. However, before installing the repaired pump on the car, it is advisable to test it on a stand. If you suspect that the pump is worn out, contact a power steering specialist so that he can check its operating pressure and correctly identify the malfunction. Generally speaking, the numerous advantages of power steering many times outweigh the problems created by its possible malfunctions. It is worth switching to a car without power steering after driving a car with a modern system, and you will immediately "feel the difference."