How to check the steering rack when purchasing

What methods exist for checking the steering rack in the automotive market when purchasing?

Before purchasing a used steering rack, the buyer must contact a service station, where they will diagnose the steering mechanism. If the service station confirms it, and you are the “lucky one” who has a faulty steering rack, then you can contact our company.

If you independently make an erroneous “diagnosis” of your car, and this turns out to be not the case at all, then you may have a problem with the return.

It should be clearly understood that with the help of technical diagnostics you will protect yourself from material waste and waste of personal time.

When purchasing a steering rack from our company, the seller is obliged to check the steering mechanism in your presence.

First of all, attention should be focused on:

• the rod - its surface should be free of various types of scratches, cavities, nicks and pockets of corrosion. Any of the above will damage the seal lip. An assessment of the condition of the rod (pull it out of the body until it stops, alternately in both directions) is carried out with the boots removed;
• presence/absence of fluid in the rack - the presence of old fluid, which is revealed during the inspection process, will additionally inform about the condition of the part. For example, a cloudy, dark-colored liquid is a sure sign of the presence of foreign inclusions (wear products) in it. When there is too much fluid, this means the following: a) the wearing elements of the rack are probably in poor condition; b) the remaining life of the spare part is on the verge of exhaustion;
• rod teeth - it is easiest to assess the condition of the outermost teeth located on the left. Their low degree of wear should not be misleading, because the teeth take minimal part in turning the steering wheel. The actual state of affairs reflects the state of the central teeth, which work constantly;
• checking for excessive movement of the steering gear central shaft. The check is carried out as follows: unscrew the rack shaft until it stops, hold the rack body with one hand, and the shaft with the other hand. This way it is checked on both sides for the presence of shakyness.

Let's think about the currently “fashionable” restoration of slats and is it worth using this service?

Restoring the mechanism consists of the following stages:

• disassembly/assembly of the steering rack (approximate cost from 30$ to 50$);
• purchase of a repair kit (seals, cuffs, etc.). When purchasing a repair kit, you must understand that this is not the original (approximate cost from 50 USD - up to 80 USD);
• welding of teeth and spraying of the central shaft - this is fraught with the appearance of shells and cracks, due to which either the entire rod or the entire rack changes. Thus, if there is a high degree of wear on the elements of the steering shaft rod and worm, it is strictly not recommended to install spare parts (approximate cost from 60y.e-120y.e).

Many car owners are concerned with the question: “What to do if the central shaft is bent, and can such a rack be repaired?” - “Unfortunately, no, such a rack cannot be repaired even if the seals are replaced.”

Will the VIN code help car owners during verification?

Some car owners seriously ask sellers how to choose the right steering rack by volume, year of manufacture and car model based on the VIN code. This number is a special set of numbers and letters arranged in a certain sequence. The code, which includes 17 characters, provides only important information about the vehicle:

1. Vehicle serial number.
2. Model.
3. Transmission type.
4. Body type.
5. Engine's type.
6. Manufacturer country.
7. Type of power system.
8. Year of issue.

That is, this is data that allows you to uniquely identify a car and not confuse it with another when preparing documents (for example, when exchanging or selling).

If automakers suddenly decided to include information about the type of brake system, rack and other structural elements in the VIN, instead of a 17-digit alphanumeric code, the result would be a 30- or even 40-digit code. As a result, it would become much more difficult to operate with VIN. This is of no interest to either car enthusiasts or representatives of the global automobile industry.

However, you can determine the modification of the steering rack by VIN. By contacting, for example, the manufacturer or its official dealers in your region.

Any part is marked with an engineering number, by which it can be identified in the spare parts catalog or simply googled on the Internet. Thus, you have the opportunity to independently check the purchased spare part.

There is an opinion that buying a used spare part is a lottery. The statement is partly true, but if you follow the above recommendations, the likelihood of purchasing a damaged part is minimized.

How to check the steering yourself when buying a used car

Many people almost never pay attention to the steering when buying a used car! However, repairing a steering wheel is one of the most expensive costs.

Many people almost never pay much attention to the steering when buying a used car! However, repairing the steering wheel is one of the most expensive costs in a car (for example, one replacement of the steering rack will cost from 15,000 rubles to 75,000 rubles, depending on the make and model of the car).

So how can you protect yourself?

1. Start the car and stick your hand out the window and lightly tug the steering wheel! The front wheels must respond to the slightest movement of the steering wheel! However, if you slightly shake the steering wheel on the sides, but the wheels do not move! This means that repairs are needed, from the simple (replacing the steering cams) to the more expensive (power steering or steering rack repair).

2. The steering wheel should not fall through!

3. When turning the steering wheel, no unnecessary sounds should be made!

4. If you notice increasing effort when turning the steering wheel, you can safely bargain up to 15,000 rubles.

5. Select a flat, deserted strip without other cars, and release the steering wheel (the car should drive straight), intensify the effect and squeeze the gas up to 60 km/h. (the car must move in a straight line) if the car suddenly starts to pull to the side, this could mean anything from wear on the front suspension to a change in the geometry of the body (most likely as a result of an accident). By the way, if the car is driven urgently, grab the steering wheel and run to the service station. If the service station confirms that the suspension is worn out, then it’s no big deal, it can be fixed, just start haggling with the seller. If you discover a change in the geometry of the body, then refuse the deal (driving in such a car is deadly).

6. When driving, the car’s suspension should not make unnecessary sounds (crunch, increasing whistle or rattle).

Well, and most importantly, the car must clearly obey the steering wheel when in motion! If you feel an incomprehensible reaction or any discomfort when entering a turn, then get checked at a service station.

That's all. We hope that by following these instructions, you will be able to identify all steering faults and purchase a good car. We wish you good luck on the roads!

How to check the steering rack yourself

The steering rack, although small, is a very significant part of the car, because its condition affects the convenience of driving and the safety of the car owner and everyone who is on the road with him. Even if the vehicle is equipped with a high-quality steering rack, it may suffer damage during operation. But any driver can check the operation of the steering rack on his own.

Symptoms of a problem

This small part is needed in order to control the trajectory of the car. The steering rack transmits and transforms the rotational movement of the steering wheel into a rotary, horizontal movement of the wheels of the car.

If on the road the driver is faced with the fact that it has become difficult to keep the “iron horse” in the right direction and he is forced to constantly steer, but despite this the car moves from one side to the other, then it’s time to check the steering rack.

The part also needs to be checked when there is a hum in the power steering or when effort is required to turn the steering wheel.

Validation Rules

To check the operation of the steering rack, you need to stop the “iron horse” in a quiet place, wait a little, then, having driven a short distance, return on foot and make sure that there are no fresh oil stains left in the parking area. If such marks appear at the location of the hydraulic booster, then this part needs to be repaired or replaced.

Do not forget that if the engine compartment protection is installed, then it will not be possible to check the operation of the steering rack in this way. The oil will remain on the protective system and will drain from it at random. But in any case, such marks serve as a reason for a visit to a service station.

Here the car enthusiast can turn the steering wheel (with the engine running, otherwise the power steering will not work) to find out whether it can rotate easily and smoothly, and whether the wheels turn normally at this moment. This visual check is usually carried out on the side of the road.

Detailed inspection

If after the inspection there is still reason to doubt the serviceability of the steering rack, then you need to take the car to a service station, where there are all the necessary conditions for a more serious check. It is better to transport the car not under your own power at a “creeping” speed with the emergency lights on, but with the help of a tow truck.

Upon closer inspection, you need to pay attention to whether drips have appeared on the power steering. In addition, it is worth thoroughly checking all protective covers that protect parts from dust and dirt. You need to make sure that they do not break and are securely fastened in place.

In addition, it makes sense to check whether some parts of the steering mechanism are touching other equipment when turning the steering wheel. This happens if the car has been in an accident or after hitting an obstacle. One person turns the steering wheel, and the second at this moment carefully looks and listens.

If no flaws are found during the inspection, then all that remains is to tighten all connections.

If during the inspection it was not possible to detect the reasons for the abnormal activity of the steering rack and the car continues to be difficult to control (the steering wheel jams or it works jerkily), then it is necessary to give the car into the hands of specialists. At the service station they will professionally test the steering rack and repair it or replace it with a new one.

What to look for when buying a used steering rack

It is impossible to get a complete picture of the condition of a used steering rack without disassembling it. Of course, it is undesirable to buy a rack whose body will show external, albeit seemingly minor, damage. This happens because many “used” racks offered for sale were removed from cars that were involved in accidents. Then it is necessary, as far as possible, to bend the anthers on both sides of the rack, or even better, remove them completely and check the rack rod. In this case, it is advisable to completely push the rod out of the body, first in one direction, and then in the other direction.

There should be no corrosion holes, scratches or nicks on the rod. Otherwise, they will damage, if they have not already damaged, the seal lips, which will cause hydraulic fluid to leak, and then some time after installation the rack will have to be repaired.

If old fluid remains in the rail, during manipulations carried out during the inspection, it may begin to flow out of the tubes. The type of liquid can also tell something about the condition of the reiki. If the liquid is dark and cloudy, it means there are a large number of foreign inclusions in it. Most often these are wear products, since other inclusions are unlikely to get into the liquid. Buying a rack from which such liquid leaks is risky, since there is little hope for the satisfactory condition of the rubbing and, for this reason, wearing parts of the rack and, as a consequence, for the residual life.

When checking the rod, it will be possible to examine some of the teeth cut on it, but this will not help much, since the condition of the central teeth is important, because only they constantly work and wear out.

The outer teeth (on the left) come into play only when the steering wheel is turned completely in one direction or another and usually look unworn.

And of course, it will not be possible to find out the condition of the steering shaft worm teeth, but it is the wear of these teeth and the central teeth of the rack rod that determines whether the rack really needs to be replaced, or whether it can still be repaired at a service station that specializes in repairing steering components.

The fact is that you cannot restore teeth without welding. And when welding, there is a high risk of cracks and cavities, which makes this procedure impractical compared to replacing the rod or even the entire rack assembly. But if the problem is only that the rack is leaking, it is possible, and in many cases even smarter, to repair it rather than replace it with a used one.

As for the car's VIN number, it consists of a sequence of 17 alphabetic and numeric characters by which you can determine the car's country of origin, its model, body type, engine type and its power system, transmission type, year of manufacture and serial number with which the car rolled off the factory assembly line. This is more than enough for the VIN to do what it is intended to do - accurately identify the car, and prevent it from being confused with any other car during various paperwork and inspections. If the type of steering rack, brake system and other secondary data that have nothing to do with the direct purpose of the identification number are also entered into the VIN, it will become even more complex and will lose its ease of operation and writing in documents.

Nevertheless, using the VIN, you can clarify the modification of the rack, but for this you need to request the manufacturer or its official representative in Belarus, which is the Ford center in Borovaya. Again, the so-called engineering number must be applied to the rack itself, under which the rack appears in the spare parts catalog. This number can also be used to determine the modification of the rack, but, firstly, to find it out, you will have to crawl under the car, and secondly, the engineering number most likely will not tell sellers of used spare parts - it is better to contact specialists spare parts in Borovaya.

3 ways to check the steering of a used car for functionality

Can I check the car myself before buying? After all, not everyone has familiar mechanics and auto experts who can check the performance of all components of the car. Close attention should be paid to the steering - not only the ease of steering, but also your safety depends on its serviceability. And before you buy a car, check whether the correct operation of the steering wheel and the entire control unit as a whole is ensured.

There are 3 ways to check the steering of a used car for functionality, and you can easily use them yourself.

Test drive - checking the steering by ear

To do this, you need to drive the chosen car a little, and not only on smooth asphalt, but also on a dirt road. You need to turn off the music and focus entirely on extraneous sounds. Any observed noises, squeaks, knocks, crunches and clanks may indicate a problem with the steering.

• A knocking sound from the steering rack indicates wear. Probably, the car was often driven on bad roads, or its owner is a fan of low-profile tires;
• Noises when turning the wheels indicate wear of the steering cardan, its crosspieces, and steering tips. Operating a machine in such a technical condition is simply dangerous;
• Noises and humming from the hydraulic booster indicate its imminent failure. The reason for this is untimely replacement of hydraulic fluid or its poor quality.

Often, a test drive on a flat road will not give you enough information to diagnose the steering. Therefore, it is important to check the car’s performance in real conditions: drive over speed bumps, curbs, broken asphalt and dirt roads.

Important When driving a car in a straight line, the steering wheel should be level, and if you release it, the car should move straight. The car pulling to the side indicates a faulty rack, deformation of the steering tips or front suspension arms.

On-site steering diagnostics

To do this, you need to concentrate as much as possible and pay attention to even the smallest details. Steering diagnostics is the most important stage in car diagnostics. Therefore, sitting in the driver’s seat and fully turning the steering wheel several times, you can get valuable information;

• if the steering wheel turns with difficulty, this indicates a malfunction of the hydraulic booster (electric power steering), a violation of the alignment angle of the front wheels;
• Light steering indicates the serviceability of the unit. Of course, if the car is not parked on ice, grass or wet surfaces;
• Sticking and play in the steering wheel indicate a malfunction of the steering tips, steering shaft bearing or rack. Often, car owners tighten the adjusting bolt on the rack before selling them - this way they get rid of knocking. But as a result, the steering wheel becomes heavy and can jam in some positions;
• Vibration of the steering wheel when rotating indicates a malfunction of the power steering or power steering, steering shaft bearing.

It is important to consider that the operation of the power steering depends on the car’s engine speed: the higher it is, the easier it becomes to turn the steering wheel.

Important Your safety depends on the proper functioning of your steering and brakes. Checking the functionality of these components when buying a car second-hand is mandatory!

Visual inspection of the steering, what is important to know

If, during the previous testing methods, suspicions have crept in about the serviceability of the steering wheel, then it’s time to start a visual inspection. You need to drive the car into a pit or overpass, then conduct a visual check of the steering, paying attention to the following details:

• oil leaks from the rack or power steering. They indicate a leak in the seal. Over time, this can result in expensive repairs;
• gaps in the steering rod joints indicate loosening or wear;
• weak tightening of the nuts and the absence of cotter pins securing them indicates that the steering wheel repair was not carried out by specialists;
• traces of mechanical damage and impacts may indicate the car was used in harsh conditions, or unqualified repairs.

Important! You should also carefully inspect the tires: uneven wear indicates incorrect wheel alignment, a violation of the body geometry or deformation of the suspension components.

Self-check of tie rod ends

Another important component that requires close attention when buying a used car is the steering ends. Their malfunction leads to a general decrease in controllability, steering play, and front wheel play along the axis of motion. Checking the tie rod ends yourself is a simple procedure. The main thing is to pay attention to the following details:

• torn anthers indicate untimely maintenance;
• grease leaking from under the boot indicates long-term use and wear of the tip, unqualified replacement of the boot;
• the unnatural color of the unit indicates its overheating;
• If there are signs of mechanical damage and deformation, use of the steering tip is prohibited.

Important! Be sure to check the operation of the steering before you buy a car. In this way, you will protect yourself from buying a car that is faulty or simply dangerous for participation in road traffic. And of course, it is reasonable to demand a discount from the seller.

Do you doubt your ability to independently check the performance of the steering? Then feel free to take your car to a car service center and entrust its diagnostics to professionals. But before that, be sure to check the car using official databases: this way you will protect yourself from car fraudsters. The online service for checking cars "AvtoVin" will provide a full report on the car, in just a couple of minutes, in it you will see: the number of registration actions performed, current traffic police restrictions, legal cleanliness, the fact of participation in an accident, the location of collisions during an accident, compulsory motor liability insurance policies passed Maintenance and repairs in official services. check the car for work in a taxi. Protect yourself from fraud and buy only tested and serviceable cars.

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