Common symptoms of power steering failure

Common symptoms of power steering failure

There should be no persistent vibration in the steering wheel, and the car should not shake, except when driving on washed out gravel roads. If you notice the presence of one of these two signs, then most likely there is something wrong with the steering.

Worn linkages may cause your vehicle to feel like it’s shaking or cause vibrations in the steering wheel. As the name suggests, these linkages are the parts that connect the rack and pinion mechanism, or steering rack, to the steering knuckles attached to the wheels and hubs.

However, any of these conditions can also be a result of the tire being bulged or requiring balancing. Other common causes include glassy or warped brake rotors and uneven brake pad wear. The same thing can happen if your car needs a wheel alignment soon.

Sloppy steering wheel

There may be a problem with a component of the hydraulic power steering system if the steering wheel feels sloppy and you can easily move back and forth several times even if you are not changing direction.

Power steering
Worn connections connecting the steering box may cause the hydraulic power steering to malfunction

The most likely causes of this problem are significantly weakened and worn linkages or even a worn steering rack. Under normal conditions, you should only feel the responsiveness of the steering wheel, which remains centered even when driving onto a straight stretch of road. There should be minimal or no play in the steering wheel.

The car seems to float over uneven roads

Traveling by car should be comfortable, but not too comfortable. If there are bumps on the road while driving, and the car seems to be bouncing on a trampoline or floating on the waves, most likely the problem is not in the steering, but in worn shock absorbers or struts. However, worn shock absorbers and struts can lead to potentially dangerous driving problems.

Solving power steering problems

Every time you take turns, especially sharp ones, the weight of the car is deflected to the side of the turn, transferring to the tires on the other side. The hydraulic power steering system and suspension are designed to counteract weight transfer and maintain traction.

Shock absorbers and struts, which you can buy in the Silux online auto parts store, are the most important elements of this process. This means that although they are not a direct part of the steering system, they are still interconnected. If shock absorbers and struts are already outdated, they need to be replaced as soon as possible.

Difficulty turning the steering wheel

Power steering is a common feature on most SUVs, cars and trucks on the road these days. A hydraulic pump, or some models use an electric motor instead, helps the driver turn the tires while turning the steering wheel

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