Hi,
I bought my Audi A4 (B5) at 83K miles and the steering is very hard. I headrd that the wheels in these cars are really smooth, but mine is pretty hard to turn and takes a lot of effort to turn with one hand. Do you guys think that that is the way these cars were built way back in the late 90s (Mine is a 99 model) or is there something that can be done to smoothen it out a bit?

 

No there is something wrong with your steering. It should be pretty easy to turn.

Check your powersteering fluid. Do you hear a lot of noise when you turn the wheel?

 

no i dont... power steering fluid level seems fine...

 

Ok, if you have the car on, sitting in the parking lot not moving, radio off, windows down, and you turn the wheel say 180 degrees or more, you should be able to hear the power steering pump whining a bit. When you are moving, it is relatively quiet, but when sitting still, you should be able to hear a low moan. If its low on power steering fluid, its louder. If its quiet and the power steering fluid is good, but its hard to turn, I'm wondering if your power steering pump is totally shot and that is why you don't hear it.

 

when you turn, will the wheel return to center on its own?
for example, stop sign. pause. turn right, relase steering wheel after turn, does it come back to center all on its own, or are you in someone's yard? My steering wheel feels fine to me, but I've been told by others that it's stiff. Still smooth, but stiff. I like it this way, when racing autocross I get more feedback from the ground. However, my wheel will return most of the way, within about 90degrees from center. I dont know what the problem is, but there is in fact a problem, thats what my VAG specialist told me. This post is semi-pointless i guess... sorry. Just thought I'd give my $.02