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Home Society Motoring Do you experience stiff or shaking steering wheel?

Do you experience stiff or shaking steering wheel?

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Problem Diagnosis:

This kind of problem is often caused by a faulty steering pump, as you may not aware of, power steering system makes your car easier to steer during driving, this includes component such as power steering pump which pumps power steering fluid to create hydraulic force applied to the steering gear thus making your car easier to steer.

When your power steering pump occasionally fail, such as when the pump stops pumping for a moment this will make your car steering wheel become stiff momentarily. Also, if the power steering belt becomes wet it can slip thus making your car steering wheel become stiff.

Problem Cause: Faulty power steering pump

The only solution for this kind of problem is to replaced the power steering pump, bring your car to a reputable repair shop and have a mechanic to confirm whether the problem lies with your car power steering pump. Also have the mechanic inspect your power steering system explain your diagnosis of the problem.

Why the shaking steering wheel?

Tyres out of balance or the “bushings” (not sure the technical term) are worn in the steering system.

It could be faulty steering dampers. This is a shock that crosses from left to right connecting to tie rod ends. The shock is very firm and you will not be able to actuate it by hand if working properly. usually causes left to right steering oscillation at low to mid speeds.

Warped brake rotors for cars with front disk brakes. The rotor hits the caliper every tire rotation causing a small bump in the steering wheel each time.

Your tyres might need to be rotated and balanced.

Depends when the wheel shakes. If it is during braking then your rotors are warped. If it is durinig normal driving then yes it could be bent rim, loose/worn suspension components. A balance problem is usually indicated by vibration in the vehicle not usually a shaky steering wheel. It may also be that the steering gear is badly worn which causes greater than normal spaces between the meshing parts.

Bent rim, shifted belt in tyre or other tyre defect including irregular wear (tyre rotation under these conditions will make the vibration felt), loose lug nuts, worn inner tie rod end bushings, loose mounted or internal play in the rack and pinion steering gear. Wheel Alignment or Front end Alignment will not cause a vibration.

Check the lug nuts on all your tyres. 

Grinding sound on the brakes

The sound can be noticed when you depress the brake pedal when applying the brake. Excessively worn brake lining is the cause of brakes grinding sound you have heard on your car brakes. This happens because the linings have already worn down up to the metal component of the lining which in turn will rub down into the brake disc or brake drum surface depending on where the grinding noise when braking is coming from.

This is what happens when you neglect the maintenance of your brake, you will only notice that there is already a problem when it’s too late because of poor car maintenance schedule, the result, you may end up paying a costly repair in fixing the problem.

Now, to fix the problem you’ll need to replace the brake linings where the problem is detected. However, replacement of the brake linings is not enough because probably the affected disc or drums are also damage due to rubbing of metal from the linings. Therefore, it is also necessary that affected disc or drums is to be machined to make the surface of the affected parts smooth so that the lining will have an even contact with the disc or drums and avoid vibration during braking. Next time around, do not neglect your car maintenance especially the brakes, you may conduct brake inspection once a year to ensure that the brakes are safe for use.

Comments (3)Add Comment
Mr.
written by Ray Rex Pope, August 25, 2010
Thanks for telling your readers about the possible causes of stiff or shaking steering wheel. You will be amazed at how many readers you have helped by providing this free but valuable information. Many car owners not only in uganda but all over the world (yes, even in the so called developed countries) get ripped off by car mechanics due to lack of basic knowledge about the functions of car components. Your piece of information will save millions of car owners hundreds of pounds and dollars.
great article
written by brake rotors, August 26, 2010
excellent article, very well written!
reply
written by brake rotors, August 28, 2010
there's multiple causes for most problems on cars, for instance shaking steering wheels can be caused by seized brake calipers.

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