Power Steering Problem

First let me apologize for asking a Mazda question on the Rodeo forum but the Mazda forum elsewhere on this board is pretty dead. And this is more a general automotive type of question that could be of interest to Rodeo owners as well.

'95 Protege power steering is practically non-existant below 2000 RPM but works well above 2500 RPM. Belt is tight so it's not slipping.

Would this be more likely a bad PS pump or a bad rack and pinion unit?

I would say its the rack but the real way to tell is to but a pressure tester on the pump and see the readings.

I would say its the rack but the real way to tell is to but a pressure tester on the pump and see the readings.

And how would one put a pressure tester on the pump?

And how would one put a pressure tester on the pump?


You would need a hydraulic pressure gauge and the proper adapters which most people don't have access to.

You did check the fluid level?

Of course! The fluid level is fine.

The longer story is that the A/C compressor (driven by the same belt) locked up and shredded the belt. Not wanting to dump a lot of money into it at the moment, I bought a shorter belt and bypassed the compressor. Everything seemed OK until I drove it across town Friday. At low RPM's the steering is stiff. Step on the gas and it turns from stop to stop with one finger.

Never had one do this before. Can't tell if it's the pump or the rack.
The pump is $220 and the rack is about twice that so I want to make sure I guess correctly.

Thanks for the feedback.