I drive a stock 2002 with 104k miles. My power steering feels twitchy or shaky when rapidly turning the steering wheel to navigate parking lots, driveways, or three point turns. It doesn't happen all the time but has started occurring more frequently as of late. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like gears skipping a few teeth before catching again. No noises are being made and no warning lights are coming on. The issue almost always happens within the first minute of starting the car but has occasionally happened later. It also has only happens at less than 5 miles per hour.

any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

could be your front tires.... i'd check that first.

 

I know this is an old ass thread but if anyone can point me in the right direction for a diagnosis I would love you forever. Has been happening randomly for a bit. Usually after a rain with tires that needed to be replaced.... but it just did it again now in dry conditions with new tires pulling into my driveway.

Its like the power assist is super confused and pulses max/min really fast

 

I'm looking into this problem.
Try this,
while car is running and power steering reservoir cap off, Turn the wheel from locked position to the other locked position, basically left and right. Then close the reservoir.
From what I've read, this should get rid of air bubbles, make sure the reservoir isn't overfilled. Do this a couple times and hope that it's just air bubbles coming out.

Fill to the appropriate level.
Make sure your rotors aren't warped and to have your wheels aligned.

 

Our cars have electronic power steering, no mess, no pumps, no steering feel.

 

Oops, I forgot

 

At 96,xxx km, I have also started experiencing the same kind of symptoms with my EPS : that twitchy/shaky/rapid pulses ... especially at parking maneuvers.

I'd also like to know if other members experience the same and what sort of potential problems are we facing?

 

after new steering rack new eps module, it was the torque sensor