From negotiating turns to maintaining a steady course, you rely upon your vintage car’s steering system every time you climb into the driver’s seat. This important system allows you to navigate your car down the road to your destination. If your steering system feels loose, it is time to get to the bottom of the issue. Read on to learn the symptoms and causes of loose steering.
Looking At the Problem
The great enemy of any steering system is loose steering play, commonly called “free play.” When the steering wheel experiences excessive free play, you may find that you are not able to control your classic car. The steering may feel loose and may require constant correction to keep the car in a straight line.
There may also be a knocking noise when hitting bumps due to looseness in a steering component. Sometimes a shimmy in the steering wheel is noticeable when driving at high speeds. Additionally, your classic car may wander from side-to-side while in motion. Any one or a combination of these symptoms is just cause to investigate the problem immediately. Ignoring the warnings signs can lead to excessive tire wear, difficulty in steering and, in severe cases of neglect, a part separation, which could result in an accident.
Causes Of Loose Steering
The most common reasons for free play in the steering are looseness in the steering gear itself or looseness in one or more of the steering linkage connections.
Signs Of Steering (Or Related) Problems
You have a tough time turning the steering wheel
Most cars, trucks, and SUVs on the road today feature power steering. A hydraulic pump (or electric motor in some models) assists the driver in turning the tires when the steering wheel is turned. Old-school vehicles from decades ago did not all have this function and were much harder to steer. Your power steering equipped car would be hard to steer too if it were not for power assist. If you are having a hard time turning the steering wheel, something is likely wrong with the power steering system. Low power steering fluid in the reservoir might diminish the power assist and is a sign of a leak. A faulty power steering pump or a worn (or broken) serpentine belt could also be the culprit. If your car has electric power assist, a bad motor or blown fuse could be the cause.
You feel a vibration in the steering wheel or your vehicle shudders when turning
Unless you are driving down a washboard gravel road, you should not feel a consistent vibration in the steering wheel and your car should not shudder. If either of those conditions are present, the problem could be with your steering. Worn tie rods – the components that “tie” the rack and pinion (essentially the steering gear or “steering rack”) to the steering knuckles attached to your wheel hubs (and wheels) – can produce the effect of a vibrating wheel or make the car feel like it is shuddering. But either condition could also be caused by a tire that has a bulge or needs balancing, uneven brake pad wear, warped or glazed brake rotors. Same goes if your car needs wheel alignment.
You feel excessive play in steering wheel
If your steering wheel feels sloppy, like you can move it back and forth a bit without changing your direction of travel, there is a problem with a steering system component. The most likely causes are tie rods that are significantly worn and “loose”, or a worn-out steering rack. What you should feel under normal circumstances is a responsive wheel that stays centered when you let go on a straight stretch of road. There should be little to no play in it.
Your car pulls or wanders to one side
Just as your steering wheel should not have play, your vehicle should not pull to the left or right on its own. If it does, or if it gradually wanders one way or the other, you could be driving on an uneven road with a significant slope. But if it happens all the time, everywhere you drive, there is some other issue. Low tire pressure can cause your car to pull or wander to one side. So can uneven tire wear, which is why you should make sure your tires rotated regularly. A bad wheel alignment can also point one or more tires in the wrong direction and lead to pulling and wandering to one side, as can a faulty brake caliper that is stuck open or closed. If, on the other hand, your car wanders both ways randomly, worn tie rods can be your cause.
You hear noises when you turn the wheel
Loud, unnatural sounds coming from your car can be disconcerting. If you hear screeching or squealing when you turn the steering wheel, the noise is related to the steering system. Low power steering fluid or a faulty power steering pump could be the cause. So could a worn-out serpentine belt. If you hear grinding instead, the steering rack is probably going bad. And if you hear a quiet creaking sound, the upper bearings on your struts could be worn.
You notice that the power steering fluid is foaming or bubbling
Power steering fluid is translucent and usually has a reddish tint, similar to automatic transmission fluid. It should not be dark and opaque. And it should not be foamy. If you look in the pump reservoir and notice foaming or bubbles, there is likely a leak in the system that needs to be repaired. It could also be that the fluid is old and in need of replacement (anti-foaming agent is one additive included in power steering fluid and it diminishes out with age). If the fluid has a milky appearance, there could be moisture in the system, in which case the fluid should be flushed.
Your steering wheel “slips” when you turn
There are complaints by some drivers that they turn the steering wheel and the tires do not follow, as if there is a dead zone in the wheel where it has no effect. This is not normal, and a car should not be driven if this is the case! Fortunately, this is also not common. If you do notice that your car does not turn when you turn the wheel, or that it does not straighten back out after a turn, your steering rack needs repair or replacement.
You feel your car “floating” over bumps in the road
You want your car ride to be comfortable, but not too comfortable. If you drive over bumps in the road and your car floats like a boat on the waves, or bounces like it is on a trampoline, the problem is not your steering, it is probably worn struts or shock absorbers. But worn-out struts and shocks can lead to problems while you are steering – potentially dangerous ones.
When you drive around corners, especially sharp ones, the weight of your car leans away from the turn and off the tires on one side. Your suspension system is designed to counteract this weight transfer to maintain traction. The struts and shocks are integral to the process. So, while they are not a direct component of the steering system, they are interrelated. Old struts and shocks should be replaced.
Steering Systems
There are many different suspension and steering system designs, however they are all composed of three basic component groups:
- Steering box or rack and pinion that is connected to the steering wheel by the steering column.
- Linkages that connect the steering box to the wheel assemblies at the front wheels.
- Front suspension parts that allow the wheel assemblies to pivot at the joints and hold the tires in position on the road.
The front end is connected to the steering box, or rack and pinion, through a series of linkages. The linkages connect the steering box to the wheel assemblies at the front wheels, allowing them to move back and forth when the steering wheel is turned. If these linkages wear out, they become weak and allow play in the steering system and make the steering feel sloppy.
Tooth contact inside of the steering gearbox or rack and pinion can change as the vehicle ages or may be misadjusted. In either case, looseness in the steering can result. Sometimes an adjustment may solve the condition but in cases of high mileage, the entire gearbox or rack unit may require replacement.
Worn chassis components such as the rack and pinion, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, ball joints, steering gears, or any other parts that exhibit wear or damage can cause problems that can be detected by a visual inspection.
Diagnosing Loose Steering System
If you suspect that there may be a problem with your steering, it is time to investigate the problem as a DIY mechanic or make an appointment with your mechanic. You should perform a dry-park test on the vehicle. While the car is resting on the tires (preferably on a lift), an assistant slightly wiggles the steering wheel from side-to-side while the mechanic looks at each steering linkage component.
Some of the most important steering components like the tie rod ends, ball joints, and idler arms can only be inspected from underneath the vehicle and a wheel jack or car lift is needed to check their condition. Inner and outer tie rod ends are tested by raising the wheel in the air, placing your hands on the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock position on the tire, and rocking it back and forth to check for any abnormal noises and to ensure the inner and outer tie rod ends are working in synchronicity.
Finally
Because a steering system also performs relative to the condition of your vehicle’s tires, wheels should be perfectly aligned and balanced, the tires rotated around every 5,000 miles. Tires can be inspected for signs of abnormal or uneven wear or even flat spots due to prolonged storage. If any of these are found to be problematic it can affect the steering and handling performance of a vehicle.
Not all steering problems are caused by an issue with the steering system itself – the steering wheel, column, rack and pinion, tie rods, etc. Sometimes what feels like a steering system problem is a related component that affects the steering or makes it difficult to steer properly. You rely on your classic car’s steering system every time you drive your car and keeping it working at its very best is as simple as periodic inspections and lubrication of your steering system and suspension.
