Steering rack: common defects and their signs

1. Breakdown of the steering rack shaft.
   • During driving, foreign knocking is heard from the steering mechanism side.
   • Significant force is necessary to turn the steering wheel.
   • The car steerability at turning worsened.
   • The steering wheel screeches at turning.
2. Wear-out of sealings.
   • Leakages of working fluid can be seen under the steering rack after continuous parking.
   • Hydraulic liquid level is constantly lowering.

How to repair or replace steering rack?

In some cases the steering rack can be adjusted. But it is more preferable to demount the part if defect signs were found, disassemble it fully, clean all its elements and replace worn out parts included in a repair kit. These procedures should be performed at a service station as the process requires presence of special knowledge and skills.

In case of serious damages or deformation, the component should be replaced. The process may insignificantly vary for cars of different construction, for example, for a steering rack with hydraulic power steering or without it. Moreover, this process is quite laborious and requires actions accuracy. That is why it is better to entrust replacement to specialists of a service station in case if you don’t have experience of such works performing.