5 SYMPTOMS OF A BAD STEERING RACK

purpose

The purpose of the steering rack is to convert rotational movement from the steering wheel into the side-to-side movement to pivot your wheels left and right.

In this article, we will be focusing on a hydraulic power steering system. If you have a newer car you might have electric power steering.

location

The steering rack will be located in the middle between the front wheels.

symptoms

Fluid leak

The first symptom is a power steering fluid leak. You could notice a fluid leak on the driveway when you back out, or maybe you always need to add more fluid to your reservoir, as it’s always low. The leak could be coming from worn-out seals. Below you can find the locations where the leak could be coming from.

tight steering wheel

The second symptom of a bad steering rack is a tight steering wheel. You might notice that you need to apply more force than usual to turn the wheel left or right. This could be caused by the power steering leak. The leak reduces fluid pressure, preventing the right amount of hydraulic force to move the rack from side to side.

grinding noise

The third symptom of a faulty steering rack is hearing a grinding noise when turning. If the steering rack starts to leak, there will be more metal-on-metal contact between the rack and the pinion. This will increase friction and eventually lead to a grinding noise in your car.

loose steering wheel

The fourth symptom your car could be experiencing is a loose steering wheel. There could be a dead spot, meaning that you turn the steering wheel but the tires don’t turn. This could happen due to the excessive wear between the pinion and the rack. Some systems have an adjustment screw that can help solve this problem.

sTEERING WANDER

The fifth symptom of a bad steering rack is steering wander. You could be driving on the highway when all of a sudden your car starts turning in one direction without your control. This could be caused by the excessive wear between the rack and the pinion.

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If you concluded that your steering rack needs to be replaced and you want to do it yourself, I would recommend getting a repair manual here. You can use code “AD10VA” for 15% off one-year subscriptions for any US Order.

You can also buy a new steering rack here.

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