A steering rack is a rack and pinion assembly in your car that works to convert the rotation of your steering wheel into the side-to-side motion of your tires, thus allowing you to control the movement of your car on the road. The steering rack is essential in ensuring your car maneuvers as you intend it to.
Just like other components in your car, it can become worn out or damaged, and impede the movement of the car if not properly maintained. If left unchecked, you could end up unable to steer your car, which could lead to an accident on the road.
A noisy or stuck steering wheel often indicates problems with your steering rack. So if you notice any of the issues we’ll discuss here, it’s time to get your steering rack repaired.
1. Steering Wheel Becoming Stuck or Heavy
Example of a heavy steering wheel
Your steering wheel should feel smooth and easy to turn when you’re driving. If your steering wheel gets stuck or feels heavy to turn, you most likely have an issue with the steering rack. Sometimes your steering wheel might be hard to turn either to the left or right, and other times it could get totally stuck. If you face this issue, here are some of the possible culprits.
- Corrosion on the steering rack
- Debris and water contamination in the steering rack when the rubber boots covering the tie rods rupture
- Failure of the hydraulic or electric steering assistance
2. Steering Rack Leaking Oil
This is one of the easiest steering rack problems to identify. If you find leaking fluid or oil underneath your car accompanied by difficulty turning your steering wheel while driving, you most likely have leaking power steering fluid.
That said, the pool of oil you find could also be other fluids such as the engine oil. So it’s best to take your car to the workshop to get it checked. If you really have a steering fluid leak, your mechanic can help you repair your steering rack.
Read More: Car Engine Suddenly Stops? Here Are Common Car Issues That Can Catch You by Surprise
3. Steering Wheel Doesn’t Return to the Center
A car’s steering rack is designed to return to the center on its own after you’ve made a turn on the road. If you notice that your steering wheel doesn’t return to the center while driving, that means you have sticky steering. In this case, you’ll have to constantly correct your steering, causing you to exert more effort just to steer your car.
A sticky steering wheel that doesn’t return to center
Lack of steering returnability is usually caused by a steering gear that’s adjusted too tight. There could also be other steering components that get stuck such as the king pin, ball joint, or steering column. To a certain extent, even improper wheel alignment can reduce steering returnability.
4. Squeaking or Clunking Sound from the Steering Wheel
Sometimes, you can have noises from the steering rack or wheel such as squeaking or clunking. Both these noises can occur when you turn the steering wheel, either stationary or while driving. A squeaking steering wheel usually indicates some wear and tear such as worn bearings in the steering column or low lubricant levels.
Squeaking is rarely a major issue and can be fixed with regular maintenance. Just don’t ignore it for too long if you don’t want it to deal with costly steering rack repairs.
Clunking noises from your steering rack or wheel could signify more serious issues such as a worn steering rack, low steering fluid, or malfunctioning steering pump. Clunking noises from the steering tend to only happen occasionally, so it can be hard to pinpoint its cause. Furthermore, the steering components are closely linked to the suspension system, which makes it even more difficult to identify the root cause. If you have this issue, it’s best to bring your car to a workshop.
Read More: Car Producing Odd Noises? Here Are the Possible Causes
5. The Smell of Burnt Oil
One of the more serious steering rack-related problems is having the smell of burnt oil in your car while driving. This happens when the power steering fluid overheats due to excessive friction or temperature increase in the steering gearbox. Overheating power steering fluid can be very dangerous as it could even lead to your car catching fire.
If you smell burnt oil while driving, it’s best to stop your car at a safe spot, wait for it to cool down, and find a nearby workshop to get your car checked.
6. Steering Wheel Moving on Its Own
Imagine your steering wheel starts rotating left to right on its own right after you start your car, without you even touching it. It might seem like your car is possessed but don’t be too alarmed as it can be fixed at a workshop. This is a fairly uncommon problem and is usually electronic in nature. Don’t drive your car if this happens as you could hurt your hands and wrists trying to fight the steering wheel or worse, get into an accident.
Steering wheel moving on its own
If your steering wheel shakes or vibrates violently while driving, then you could have problems with a number of components including the tie rods, steering rack bushing, wheel bearings, and other parts. Therefore, it’s best to get your car checked immediately to pinpoint the cause in this case.
Your car’s steering system is the main thing helping you steer your car on the road, so if you notice any of these signs, take your car to a workshop and get it checked by a qualified mechanic. Letting these problems progress can not only incur expensive steering rack repairs in the future but put you and your passengers at risk as well.
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