If your car’s steering wheel feels loose, you should address the problem immediately. A loose steering wheel can make it difficult to keep your vehicle in a straight line – and worst of all, it can increase your risk of an accident.

Excessive play in the steering system can be defined as: where the steering wheel can be turned more than one to one and a half inches without the wheels rotating. Steering systems generally give ample warning of problems and excessive play is generally caused by worn steering racks and tie rod ends.

What causes loose steering?

• Worn out linkages that connect the steering box, rack, or pinion which join the steering wheel to the steering column.
• The linkages that connect the steering box to the front wheels.
• Front suspension parts, enabling the wheel to turn and which hold the tyres in the correct position.

Poor steering may actually be the result of suspension system issues, worn tires, or other non-steering system inadequacies. Then again, maybe it is your steering system. Bottom line is, you need to track down the root cause of the problem before you begin to fix poor steering performance.

1. Top 5 Bad Intermediate Steering Shaft Symptoms. 1) Strange Sounds. 2) Turning Difficulty. 3) Corrosion on Bearings. 4) Steering Wheel Tilt is Loose. 5) Steering Wheel Does Not Go Back to Middle.
2. Intermediate Steering Shaft Replacement Cost.

Once it starts to fail, you can expect some problems with your steering. You will pay around $100 for the parts and about $70 for labor. It should take about an hour to replace and cost, on average, about $170, but these costs can vary based on the kind of car you have.

Work of a steering system is to turn the wheel of any vehicle smoothly. A bad or damaged intermediate steering shaft can result in numerous driving issues. It is not safe to drive the vehicle that has a bad steering shaft.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week….Hyundai Elantra Flex Coupling-Steering Damper Replacement costs $229 on average.

If your flex coupling is binding, it can pose a potentially severe steering issue including loss of control.

A worn flex coupler may cause play to develop in the steering wheel. You may notice excessive free play before the vehicle begins to actually maneuver when the steering wheel is turned. In more serious cases, the play may be accompanied by a clunking sound coming from the steering column.

Steering Column Replacement Costs It will also depend on the specific car you are driving, like the make, model, and year, since it varies based on the labor costs. The overall price of a steering column replacement is going to average anywhere between $450 and $1400 for the mechanic to fix the issue.

1) Steering Wheel Not Centered The power steering system includes this ability in it. But, this ability will be compromised if the steering column is blocked or damaged for whatever reason. The result will be a steering wheel that is more difficult to center.

How to Break a Steering Column

1. Push a screwdriver in between the plastic cover on the steering column and the steering wheel.
2. Remove the screw holding a round plastic piece just behind the steering wheel using a screwdriver.
3. Pry the metal plate from the ignition.
4. Test the steering wheel, making sure it is no longer locked.

A steering column is a shaft that connects the steering wheel with the steering system in a vehicle. Steering column control modules is the interface between steering wheel and steering column. It is located at the top of the steering column below the steering wheel and helps to control the entire steering mechanism.

Most power steering control units are only accessible when the lower dashboard covers are removed. Step 6: Remove the bolts attaching the steering column to the vehicle. On most domestic and imports, the steering column is attached to a housing that is secured to the firewall or the vehicle’s body.

The steering column assembly consists of the steering shaft, column (outer housing) and sometimes a rubber coupling and/or universal joint. The steering column normally bolts to the underside of the dash. The column projects through the engine bay firewall and fastens to the steering rack or box.

The EPS control module (CM) calculates the optimum assist current based on the steering torque signal from the torque sensor installed to the steering column and the vehicle speed signal sent via CAN transmission from the PCM. The following steering angle signals are output via CAN communication.

The average cost for power steering control module replacement is between $901 and $929. Labor costs are estimated between $108 and $137 while parts are priced at $793. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.

For cars with electric power steering, the light may say EPS, for electric power steering. With the light illuminated, you won’t have power assist to help you steer. You will still be able to drive, but the steering wheel will be very difficult to turn, so you will need to be extra careful when driving.

If your car has power steering assist whether by hydraulics or electric, and these failed, you can not drive too long. In a electric power steering (EPS), there’s absolutely no way you can steer without assist. The steering wheel is “locked”, and won’t move at all.

Driving your car for extended periods without power steering fluid can damage the pump. While there’s nothing that physically stops you from driving your car if you have a power steering fluid leak, once the level drops, your pump runs dry. This causes increased friction and heat and can quickly cause expensive damage.

While it is technically possible to drive the car with a failing electric power steering system, it is not going to get any better. The vehicle will need to be serviced as soon as possible. The module is still pulling excess power from the battery and robbing the rest of the vehicle.

Here are the common symptoms of power steering failure:

1. Steering Wheel is Very Stiff. If the steering wheel is extremely stiff and hard to turn, there is likely something wrong within the power steering system.
2. Loose Steering Wheel.
3. Whining/Groaning Noises.
4. Squealing Noise (When the Vehicle Starts)
5. Steering Slow to Respond.

How to Diagnose Power Steering Problems

1. Check the power steering fluid level. If there’s not enough fluid, it’ll be hard to make turns.
2. Inspect the hoses and lines around the power steering pump for possible leaks.
3. Lift the front end of the car with a jack. Check the seals of the rack and pinion for leaks.
4. Check for loose belts.

Turn ignition switch OFF, and turn ignition switch ON. The EPS indicator comes on for about 6 seconds. Within 4 seconds of turning the switch ON, while the EPS indicator is on, turn the steering wheel 45° to left from straight ahead driving position, and hold steering wheel in position until EPS indicator goes off.

Power steering fluid can leak from: Seals and gaskets in your power steering rack. Junctions between your reservoir, lines and rack. The power steering pump itself.

You read that right – ABS is not just about braking, it’s also about steering. These materials can create a “dam effect” in front of the wheels that are locked up, preventing the vehicle from stopping as quickly as a vehicle without ABS would.

ABS does not make car stop faster. It only prevents the locking of wheels when brakes are applied so that the wheels do not skid. Wheels skid when the tractive force exceeds the frictional force between tyre and road. ABS is only to control skidding while heavy braking.

There is no legal way to disable ABS. There is no way to remove a safety system without increasing the risk that the safety system will be needed an unavailable. The only reason for pulling the fuse or relay is if the ABS is acting up. Either fix the ABS or live with the light.