Q: Why is my steering hard at idle after replacing powersteering pump and rack

Anytime a system is contaminated with metal from a failed part, you will get filters that get clogged. Since you installed a return line filter, this will help filter out any contamination but may also starve the pump of fluid. Also the fluid reservoir has a filter screen in the bottom of the reservoir that will get clogged and will starve the pump of fluid and cause the hard steering at lower RPM’s. If you have a problem where the fluid looks like it is getting lots of air bubbles in the fluid in the reservoir, then the most common problem is the reservoir filter metal screen is clogged or partly clogged. You should remove reservoir and inline filter and clean out the reservoir screen by back flushing out the debris and replacing inline filter if it is clogged also. If you need some help with all of this, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the hard steering issue and follow through with repairs.