Car steering parts

Power steering for your car: find out more! Which ones to choose, when to change them, and how much they cost

A car’s steering is a system of mechanisms which allow a driver to change the vehicle’s direction of travel. The driving direction is changed when the front wheels are turned. A flawless operation of the system is a key to road traffic safety.

Design of the steering system

As a rule, the system consists of four major units: steering wheel, steering column, steering linkage, and power steering. The steering wheel is installed in the car’s interior and is used to transfer the force applied by the driver to the steering mechanism. Furthermore, it performs an informative function: The nature and intensity of vibrationshelp a driver evaluate the condition of the road. Apart from that, the steering wheel is a place where you can find paddle shifters, the car horn, and control buttons for audioand other systems.

The steering column is a shaft with joints used to connect a steering wheel to the steering mechanism. The latter can be of different types and is designed to amplify the effort applied by the driver and to transfer it to the steering linkage. The linkage consists of tie rods and tie rod ends which properly adjust steering angles.

To make handling easier, modern vehicles are equipped with power steering, most often with a hydraulic one.

Maintenance tips

• Check the steering rack’s dust boots during every routine inspection of the vehicle. Replace the components as soon as you detect they’re defective.
• Regularly check and, if necessary, top up the hydraulic power steering system. A low oil level causes premature deterioration of the components.
• Slow down if you’re going to drive over irregularities. Impacts are harmful for the rack, tie rods and tie rod ends.
• Try to avoid turning the steering wheel all the way, especially before accelerating. This manoeuvre causes excessive strain to the hydraulic power steering system. This results in leaky rack seals.
• Have the wheels aligned every time you replace suspension components. Their misalignment may result in impaired handling and manoeuvrability.
• Do not overload your vehicle.

Signs of malfunction

Knocking sounds coming from the steering systemare a sign of worn out tie rod ends or loose mounts of the ball joint. Steering wheel wobbling indicates a damaged shaft bearing as well as issues with one of the steered wheels. Increased play of the steering wheel means that the teeth of the rack and pinion gear, shaft bearing, or tie rod end are likely to be worn out. If the steering wheel is hard to turn, it can be a symptom of wheel misalignment, a slipped belt or clogged passages of the hydraulic power steering, or a low fluid level. Noise coming from the hydraulic power steering system may be caused by a failing pump. Small drops of working fluid on the surface of the rack or other components are a sign of leaky seals, boots, or gaskets.

Causes of malfunction

Driving on poor-quality roads is harmful for the components of the steering system. The impacts the vehicle is subjected to while driving on road irregularities may result in loosened fasteners and ball joints or may cause deformation of the tie rods. Road chemicals and salt have a devastating effect on the dust boots of the rack and ball joints. Rubber becomes less elastic and starts cracking, thus letting moisture and dirt get inside. As a result, moving elements of the mechanisms wear out prematurely. Incorrect tyre pressure, their excessive wear, and wheel misalignment are also harmful to steering system components.

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