[Crued]

After my 'cat was modified, I noticed at low speed (idle even) that the steering is tremendously stiff... like before power steering level stiff.

Where should I start in diagnosing what's wrong? Is the issue a pulley isn't driving the ps pump properly? Has something broken and it's just a coincendence?

I've tried to "bleed" the ps pump by leaving cap off and turning each way to stops... I'm not sure that does a thing, but I tried it.

 

[Himmelkat]

What year is it?
If it's a later model, it has electrically boosted power steering, and my guess would be you just gotta toss the whole rack assmbly and replace it.

If it has hydraulic assist, which it seems to, it sounds like your pump rotor for the PS sheared off, or disconnected from a useful life to go try to find itself.

Try taking the belt off and see if the pulley on the PS pump freewheels easily or too easily.

 

[vrwebster]

MOD craziness continues...........................

 

[Crued]

What year is it?
If it's a later model, it has electrically boosted power steering, and my guess would be you just gotta toss the whole rack assmbly and replace it.

If it has hydraulic assist, which it seems to, it sounds like your pump rotor for the PS sheared off, or disconnected from a useful life to go try to find itself.

Try taking the belt off and see if the pulley on the PS pump freewheels easily or too easily.

It's a 2017, so hydraulic.

 

[Himmelkat]

If we are talking "feels like no power steering pump at all" then it would be disconnect between power applied TO power steering pump and power applied BY power steering pump to rack. Assuming there is fluid in it, it sounds like a broken pump drive, impeller, rotor, whatever.

 

[Crued]

If we are talking "feels like no power steering pump at all" then it would be disconnect between power applied TO power steering pump and power applied BY power steering pump to rack. Assuming there is fluid in it, it sounds like a broken pump drive, impeller, rotor, whatever.

It's only noticeable when you are around idle, or slowly moving, like around your driveway/garage. I'd rate it no to low power on the steering.

 

[Rockster]

Could be normal and your lack of recent familiarity with the car while it was being modified has just made this more noticeable.

My stock 2018 Hellcat's power steering required some effort to turn the steering wheel with the engine at idle or when maneuvering at slow speed. I quickly adapted to this and didn't really notice it much until I got rid of the Hellcat for a 2020 Scat Pack. With the electric power steering Scat Pack's steering wheel required considerably less effort to turn than the Hellcat steering wheel when the Scat Pack was used the same way as the Hellcat.

Be sure the accessory drive is in good working order, that there is no contamination of the belt or drive pulleys and the belt tension ok. The belt could be slipping and the normally high effort slow speed steering could be made worse for it.

 

[Crued]

Car was modified at 5k miles, currently at 13k. I'm just incredibly lazy.

 

[blkcat2016]

I'd say something is up with the pump for sure. My 2016 was modified with 4k on the odmometer, 50k miles later zero issues. Steering is easy when idled.

 

[DocSpook]

anyone thought to change the fluid?

 

[Xylander]

Having driven a lot of classics and race cars in my day without power steering, the heavy wheel is really only evident on those, like the OP's, when the cars are at idle or slowly moving. Once you build up forward momentum, turning the wheel is a lot easier. This tells me your pump isn't working for whatever reason.

 

[Big Swede]

I don’t have a Hellcat but can’t you change the steering feel in Uconnect? I would first try that and see if it changes at all. If it doesn’t then you definitely have a problem.

 

[Crued]

Having driven a lot of classics and race cars in my day without power steering, the heavy wheel is really only evident on those, like the OP's, when the cars are at idle or slowly moving. Once you build up forward momentum, turning the wheel is a lot easier. This tells me your pump isn't working for whatever reason.

When I was up at Barth with my TH he said it's almost certainly the pump, and gave me one he had sitting around. Now I just need to get the motivation to actually swap it.

 

[vrwebster]

Ummmm, take it back to who you paid to Mod it, Mod woes.

 

[Xylander]

When I was up at Barth with my TH he said it's almost certainly the pump, and gave me one he had sitting around. Now I just need to get the motivation to actually swap it.

I'm not a pro at these cars. I've only had 2 Mopars and that's been within the last 3 years. I never messed with my T/A. But, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Hellcat have an electrically powered hydraulic pump? If so, the pump may be good, but the electrical motor powering it may not be?

 

[WhiteTiger21]

hmmm, could be something got disconnected,