Warning! The state of the steering significantly affects not only the convenience of driving, but also the safety of traffic.
The causes of knocks and vibrations of the steering wheel may be the poor condition of the ball joints of the steering rods and steering gear, the condition of the wheels of the car. To check the steering, park the vehicle on a level surface, open the hood and perform the following operations.
1. Turn the wheels to the right as far as they will go. In this position, the left wheel tie rod ball joint becomes accessible, which can be seen from under the left fender of the vehicle. Check the integrity of the rubber protective boot of the tie rod joint.
2. Ask an assistant to rock the steering wheel from side to side and observe the connection of the ball joint and the arm of the telescopic suspension strut. There must be no visible play in the ball joint (backlash). Similarly check up a condition of the hinge of the right wheel. Should replace tie rod end with a damaged hinge boot or increased clearance in the hinge.
Warning! When replacing the tie rod ends, a violation is possible wheel alignment.
3. A rack and pinion steering mechanism is installed on the bulkhead shield separating the engine compartment from the passenger compartment. Ask the assistant to sharply shake the steering wheel left and right and observe the steering mechanism. If the steering gear housing moves from side to side, it is necessary to tighten its fastening to the body.
Warning! Do not apply excessive force when tightening the steering gear housing mounting nuts - this can lead to breakage of the studs, which will be difficult to replace. The tightening torque of the nuts for fastening the crankcase of the steering mechanism is 15-19 Nm.
Pay attention to whether there are any gaps at the junction of the steering rods with the steering rack. If the gaps cannot be eliminated by tightening the steering rod mounting bolts, then the rubber-metal hinges of the inner tips of the steering rods must be replaced.
Take a close look at the front tires. Strong impacts from the road surface, especially when hitting potholes, can cause delamination of the cords in the tire carcass, the appearance of a bulge («hernia») or skewed tires.
Helpful Hints: A possible cause of vibration and bumps on the steering wheel when driving at speeds above 70-80 km/h may be an imbalance in the front wheels. Contact a car service or tire shop to check the balance of the front wheels.
If shock or vibration occurs in the steering wheel when you press the brake pedal, you need to brake pad replacement, repair or front brake disc replacement.