Possible steering malfunctions (VAZ-21011)

Cause	Method of elimination
Increased steering wheel free play
Loosening the steering gear housing mounting bolts	Tighten the nuts
Loosening the tie rod ball joint nuts	Tighten the nuts
Increased clearance in ball joints	Replace the tie rod ends or rod ends
Increased clearance in front hub bearings wheels	Adjust the gap
Increased clearance in the engagement of the roller with the worm	Adjust the gap
Too much clearance between the swingarm axle and the bushings	Replace bushings or bracket assembly
Increased clearance in worm bearings	Adjust the gap
Steering wheel is hard to turn
Deformation of steering gear parts	Replace deformed parts
Incorrect front wheel alignment	Check wheel alignment and adjust
The gap in the engagement of the roller with the worm is broken	Adjust the gap
The adjusting nut of the pendulum lever axis is overtightened	Adjust the tightening of the nut
Low tire pressure in front wheels	Set the pressure to normal
Damage to ball joint parts	Check and replace damaged parts
There is no oil in the steering gear housing	Check and top up. Replace the seal if necessary
Misalignment of the worm shaft with the steering gear shaft	Adjust the alignment of the shafts with washers
Noise (knocking) in the steering
Increased clearance in front wheel hub bearings	Adjust the gap
Loosening the tie rod ball joint nuts	Tighten the nuts
Increased clearance between the pendulum arm axis and the bushings	Replace bushings or bracket assembly
The pendulum arm axis adjusting nut is loose	Adjust the tightening of the nut
The clearance in the engagement of the roller with the worm or in the worm bearings is violated	Adjust the gap
Increased clearance in the ball joints of the steering rods	Replace the tie rod ends or rod ends
The steering gear housing or pendulum arm bracket mounting bolts have become loose	Tighten the nuts of the mounting bolts
The pivot arm mounting nuts have come loose	Tighten the nuts
Self-excited angular oscillation of the front wheels
The tire pressure is not correct	Check and set normal pressure
The front wheel alignment angles are incorrect	Check and adjust the front wheel alignment
Increased clearance in front wheel hub bearings	Adjust the gap
Wheel imbalance	Balance the wheels
The steering rod ball joint nuts have become loose	Check and tighten the nuts
The steering gear housing or pendulum arm bracket mounting bolts have become loose	Check and tighten the nuts of the mounting bolts
The gap in the engagement of the roller with the worm is broken	Adjust the gap
The car's deviation from straight-line movement in any direction side
Uneven tire pressure	Check and set normal pressure
The front wheel alignment angles are incorrect	Check and adjust wheel alignment
Different front suspension spring sag	Replace defective springs
Deformed steering knuckles or suspension arms	Check the knuckles and levers, replace any defective parts
Incomplete release of the brakes on one or more wheels	Check the condition of the brake system
Oil leak from crankcase
Wear of the steering knuckle or worm shaft seal	Replace the seal
Loosening the bolts securing the steering gear housing covers	Tighten the bolts
Damage to sealing gaskets	Replace the gaskets
Vehicle instability
The front wheel alignment angles are incorrect	Check and adjust wheel alignment
Increased clearance in front wheel bearings	Adjust the gap
Loosening the tie rod ball joint nuts	Check and tighten the nuts
Too much clearance in the ball joints of the steering rods	Replace the tie rod ends or rod ends
Loosening of the steering gear housing or pendulum arm bracket mounting bolts	Check and tighten the bolt nuts
Increased clearance in the engagement of the roller and worm	Adjust the gap
Deformed steering knuckles or suspension arms	Check the knuckles and levers; replace deformed parts