When a Car Steering Rack Needs Replacing

The steering rack is one of the car’s hardest working components to be serviced over time and, at some point, the time will come where repair is no longer the best solution. Below you will find the signs that will lead you to realise that it is time to change your steering rack instead of trying to repair it.

Persistent Play in the Steering Wheel

If the wheel has some free play before the wheels turn, then the steering rack’s inner components have worn to a point where no further adjustment can be made. A small amount of free play is acceptable but if it feels loose and gives a feeling of vagueness at motorway speeds, it is likely the steering rack is at fault.

Uneven Tyre Wear

Also when one or both sides of the tyre are worn on the edges this can be caused by a failing steering rack. This is because the rack will have worn the tie rod ends or the housing of the rack. This in turn will cause problems with the cars wheel alignment and thus cause the tyre to wear on the edges consistently.

Fluid Pooling Under the Car

A power-assisted rack uses pressurized fluid. As this fluid leaks out of a cracked or worn rack it will weep out slowly over time. At first this may only manifest itself as small oily patches on the ground but as time goes on the leak will get worse. If you notice any fluid leaking from the area around the steering column then it is likely to be the rack that is leaking and will need to be replaced.

Binding or Grinding Through Corners

A rack that feels stiff, is binding or is grinding will have internal wear or damage which cannot be sorted by seals and flushes. It will behave differently in opposite directions and in one direction consistently.

Failing the MOT

Steering components are tested during an MOT inspection against a number of criteria, including for excessive free play or movement of the steering rack. More on Car Steering Rack can be found at https://westernpowersteering.co.uk/vehicles/.

The key thing to note is that if you have a combination of the above then it’s probably better to just replace the steering rack.