just posted this in the technical section then saw this st page.....
hi new to the forum,i am looking to buy a 2006 focus st i was meant to go pick it up sometime this week but yesterday he messaged me and told me that on a cold start the steering is stiff for a few minutes until the engine warms up,says he took it to a garage where they told him there was nothing wrong with the power steering pump and checked fluid they then told him that the top mounts were dry and needed changing.......has anyone ever heard of this and can knackered top mounts effect the steering stiffness?
any help and info would be appreciated
cheers

 

Hi
My son has an ST170 and the steering was very stiff and knocked when turning off the center line especially in cold weather.
Luckily I know a guy who runs a steering rack overhaul company
I did as he said and changed the fluid removed the ressoviour to clean out thoroughly which helped slightly
The fluid should be the green type like they use in Citroen suspension
I the end I had to have it overhauled
Apparently its the seals in the spool valve that go so it sends pressure both ways until it gets moving hence the clonk .
Its not too bad to get it out but have to drop the back of the sub-frame down.
You need to align the sub-frame when it goes back up
There is a special tool but a deep socket of the right size works.
Best of luck Tim.

 

2006 ST will have an EPAS pump behind the o/s headlamp, not a conventional PAS rack as per a ST170