Contents: Increased steering wheel free play ↓ Noise (knocking) in the steering ↓ Steering wheel is hard to turn ↓
Possible steering malfunctions, their causes and methods of elimination.
Increased steering wheel free play
Loose nuts securing the ball joints of the outer tie rod ends - Check and tighten the nuts.
Increased clearance in the ball joints of the tie rod ends - Replace the tie rod ends.
Play in the splined joints of the intermediate shaft cardan joint forks — Tighten the fork clamping bolts. Replace damaged parts.
Increased clearance between the sphere of the inner tips and the supports - Replace worn parts.
Noise (knocking) in the steering
Loose tie rod end ball joint nuts - Check and tighten nuts.
Increased gap between the rack stop and the nut - Replace worn parts, adjust the steering mechanism.
Loose steering gear mounting - Tighten the steering gear mounting nuts.
Loosening the intermediate shaft universal joint yoke tie bolts - Tighten the bolts.
Increased clearance between the rack and bushing - Replace the worn rack bushing.
Loose steering gear support mounting - Tighten mounting nuts.
Steering wheel is hard to turn
Damaged upper strut mount bearing - Replace the bearing or mount assembly.
Damage to the support bushing or rack stop - Replace damaged parts, add grease.
Low front tire pressure - Set to normal pressure.
Damage to the ball joint parts of the tie rod ends - Replace damaged parts.
Worn or damaged inner tip sphere - Replace worn or damaged parts.
No gap between the rack and the stop when moving the rack from stop to stop (possibly after adjusting the gap between the rack and the stop with a worn rack) — Measure the parameters of the rack with an indicator on a special device and, if necessary, replace the rack.