Power Steering
The power steering of your car helps you steer the vehicle by amplifying the effort needed to turn the steering wheel. It has been a standard in modern vehicles for many years and is constantly being improved upon. For most systems, there are three available, hydraulic systems that use fluids to operate, an electric system that works using an electrical motor, and a hybrid system that uses hydraulic fluid and an electric motor. These all work well and provide drivers with adequate assistance in controlling the vehicle.
While it may not matter which power steering system you have in your car, they all require some form of regular maintenance and checks. The hydraulic systems need to be checked for fluid levels and any leaks. As the fluid of a hydraulic steering system operates under high pressure, any leaks can severely limit the functionality of the system. For fully electric systems, problems can occur due to the wearing of parts such as the electrical wiring, a broken motor, sensors failing and failure of the steering gear.
Although it is entirely possible to drive a car with a damaged steering system, you may notice that your ability to manoeuvre that car is incredibly limited, and as such driving, it (while possible) is not recommended. While the problems associated with a failed power steering system may not be as dramatic as other failures your car may face in its lifetime, it can still be a shock when the car does not respond in a manner that you are used to. When the steering system fails, the car can still be moved but all the effort required in turning the wheels has to come from the driver.
Common causes for the steering to fail include, loss of power steering fluid, damaged hydraulic pumps, worn electrics and a snapped serpentine belt (this drives the motor on the hydraulic pump). If you need your steering system to be repaired you can call Lube Mobile on 13 30 32 and we’ll send a mobile mechanic to perform the appropriate car repairs and get everything back in working order.
Hiring a mobile mechanic to take care of steering problems can save you time and money, as you won’t need to arrange for your car to be transported to a workshop. At Lube Mobile we can perform a regular car service and repair many other issues, all from our mobile workshop vans. We have over 190 mechanics working all across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. For a full list of the areas we service, you can check our website or call us on 13 30 32.
How does a power steering rack work?
A power steering rack works by using high pressure fluid and a series of hydraulic pistons to push and pull the wheel in the direction that it needs to go. Without going into too much detail, the system uses hydraulic fluid and a suitable pump to make the correct adjustments and assist the driver in turning the car. The internal workings of the unit are reasonably complicated, but it basically works by using the steering column to detect where the fluid needs to go in order to make the car turn properly.
How to fix power steering rack leak?
In most cases, you may not know that there is a leak in the steering system until you have a loss of power and the steering of your vehicle becomes a problem. Ideally, you should check the hydraulic steering fluid regularly. When you have your car serviced, they will check this and let you know if there seems to be a problem.
Before fixing any leak, there needs to be an investigation to find out where the problem is occurring. The system has many moving parts and joins, although most of the time the problems can be seen as it will be smeared with hydraulic fluid. One of the most common areas that a steering rack will leak is at the tie rods.
Once the problem is found, a mechanic can examine it and decide on the correct course of action. They will tell you of the extent of the problem and suggest the best way to fix it and what needs to happen so you don't have a similar problem. At Lube Mobile, we regularly perform power steering inspections and can provide you with assistance for any steering repairs.
Can a bad power steering pump damage rack and pinion?
The short answer is, yes. If your power steering pump is malfunctioning it will not be performing correctly. This can cause problems such as not enough fluid being distributed and then the parts inside the machine will need to do more work than they usually do and this can cause stress and ultimately failure.
Like most parts of a car, one small problem can easily become a much bigger one. For cars to function properly they need regular maintenance and servicing to keep them running in their best condition.
If your car is old and you have not had it for very long you should assume that the previous owner did not make regular repairs or servicing (while they may have it’s best to think they didn't) and book your car in for a complete check over. The good thing is it’s never too late to start servicing your car regularly.
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