Steering is an important and most essential part of your control over the car. From small cars to big busses, all the automobiles’ control depends upon the steering. Nowadays, most of the cars come equipped with electronic power steering which is much easier to turn and require less force while turning around a corner. The electronic power steering is generally less prone to failure or becoming stiff, while the steering with power steering pump could have a failure depending upon the age of the car. Generally, the early sign of a power steering failure could be a stiffer steering wheel. A stiffer power steering could be harder to use than conventional normal steering. Many people do not bother about the problem and continue to drive their vehicle with it. It could be fatal in some situations particularly in hilly areas.
There are a number of reasons which determine the stiffness of the steering wheel of your vehicle. You should check for the following reasons if you feel that your steering wheel is stiff.
This is a surprising fact that bad air pressure can lead to a stiff steering wheel. Make sure to keep your tires inflated all the times according to manufacturer’s recommended PSI.
- Serpentine belt
A reason for the hard steering wheel is the damaged or cracked serpentine belt. This belt gets worn out as the time passes. Delaying in its replacement can cause it to break and it will create a lot of problem for you on the road. So replacing it in the first place is recommended.
- Low-level fluid
The low level of steering fluid is the main reason for the hard steering wheel. The leakage of fluid from cracked pipes makes the pump dry and hence reducing the pressure in the system. The wheel does not get enough supply of fluid to perform freely. So check for leaks in your system and fill the fluid up to the mark.
- Dirty fluid
The steering fluid collects the dust and debris over time and as a result, it becomes difficult for the fluid to flow in the system. A solution to this is you should drain the old fluid and refill it with new and fresh steering fluid.
- Front end alignment
The front parts should also be checked such as tie rod ends and ball joints for the lubrication. If the front tire is wearing irregularly, the problem is with the front end alignment. Check for these parts to ensure the proper functioning of the steering wheel.
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- Steering Rack
The steering rack is connected to wheels through a series of shafts and U joints. With the passage of time, these small parts continue to worn out daily. Identification of this problem is that if you start the car and find the wheels stiffed and hard to turn, definitely it is the steering rack problem. This problem will not occur after a few minutes of car driving and the steering would be fine in its operation. You can continue using your car in that condition but it will only make your rack worse.
The problem of the hard steering wheel is experienced at low speeds when you are taking a turn or turning the handle while standing idle. All of the above things work in collaboration to reduce the resistance of wheels while turning the steering. If the stiffness is not much then it should be solved with the first three points, but if it is not solved you should be certain that you should check the last three points. The least possibility is with the last point to occur.
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