Chrysler Repair: 1999 300 M steering problems, wheel bearing, level reservoir

Question
Roland,

Thanks for the advice, I know I have a bad left wheel bearing, could that be causing the problem?

Thanks,

Phil
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Followup To
Question -
The steering is hard to turn at low RPM, if I increase the rpms, the steering will turn just fine?

Phil
Answer -
Hi Phil,
Is your idle speed in the correct range, I'm guessing it should be 700-800 rpm? If it isn't then it may be too low to turn the power steering pump at the minimum rpm for good assist.
If that idle speed is o.k. then the items I would suggest you check are tire pressure, steering gear fluid level ( reservoir is integral with power steering pump), belt for pump may be slipping and therefor needs to be tightened (deflection of about 3/8" when pressed with 10 lbs of force midway between pullies). Beyond those possibilities there is measuring the pump output pressure and checking the steering gear for leakage.
Good luck on getting to the bottom of this.
Roland

Answer
Hi Phil,
I picture a bad wheel bearing, really bad, to be like a dragging brake shoe or pad on one side. You would feel the car pulling to that side but it would really have to be near to total failure to feel like that. I doubt that a simple noisey bearing would make the steering wheel hard to turn. So check the other things, and get the wheel bearing fixed too.
Roland