Power steering: Turning to the left, wheel doesn't return t

[Red_Calibra]

No symptoms lead up to this problem, the power steering has always been a wee bit noisy at slow speeds, but apart from that, no warning.

Went into town today, when I came back to the car and started it up, went to pull out of the parking space and turned the steering wheel right and then left. Turned fine to the right, but when I turned it to the left and relaxed my grip on the steering wheel to allow the PAS to do its thing and return the wheel to the centre, the bloody car wanted to go almost straight on!!. Had to turn it back myself. Got to a roundabout and it did the same again. Turning right seems fine, but turning left, it doesn't feel like the power steering is kicking in. It goes very heavy feeling.

Also, and I have no idea whether this is related or not, over the past week or so, I've been getting a "creaking" noise coming from what sounds like the actual steering wheel/column area. Only happens when turning the wheel and lasts for about a second or so, then goes quiet. Lastly, the steering wheel, at a straight ahead position, was always perfectly lined up. Now though, when the wheels are straight ahead, the steering wheel is turned slightly by about a centimeter to the right.

This is a pain in the backside. Not only have I got the ABS problem to get sorted before the MoT next month, now this happens!!!!?? AAARRGGHH!!!!!

[Chris_H]

Sounds like the tracking is out rather than a fault with the power steering especially since you say the steering wheel is no longer centered when driving in a straight line. If the tracking is out enough the steering will usually not straighten itself up, I had the exact same problem on a cavalier. Check your front tyres for uneven wear as my cavalier destroyed a pair of new tyres in only 3000 miles.

[Phantom]

I'd be looking at the ball joint attached to the steering arm, it could have failed or even the adjuster might have moved