Steering rack repair

Year after year, with every new model line, automakers try to make steering ever lighter. New electric power-assist systems keep appearing, replacing the now-familiar hydraulic ones. Is this really a good thing, and what does it mean for the car owner?

First of all, steering that's too "light" significantly reduces the feedback the driver gets, which is extremely dangerous on an uneven road surface, especially if it's slippery too. But the main point is that the more complex the mechanism, the higher the chance of failure and the more expensive the repair. That's why steering rack repair is a very live issue, especially given the state of the roads in CIS countries.

With all due respect to the makers of well-known car brands, it has to be said that they too have been drawn into today's trend of needlessly complicating car components. This is a way of "tying" the car owner to the brand's own service centres, since a repair elsewhere is impossible or made considerably harder.

Such commercial tactics, however, don't account for the situation in Russia: parts and components of a car designed for a perfect road surface break down more often. Steering components are especially prone to this, and in particular the steering rack. Even so, a repair at a specialised technical centre can solve the problem.

Beyond straightforward repair, local specialists have learned to boost the strength and reliability of this important part of the steering system, so that a rebuilt rack works better and lasts longer than a new one on our poor roads. Doing this without special equipment is difficult.

You can only marvel at the self-confidence of some car owners who hope to repair a steering rack themselves. Not every auto centre even takes on this repair. In some cases the rack can be reinforced quite substantially. A very telling example here is the transformation of the steering system on the Volkswagen Touareg, whose lower bearing used to be 47 mm in diameter and is now just 18. Maybe that's enough for a German motorway, but here it will only last until the first pothole.

The same can be said of polystyrene parts, a material that isn't springy enough and breaks quickly. In this case, repairing the steering rack means replacing these with mounts made of polymer materials, which are sturdier and stronger. Incidentally, building up ball joints and tie rod ends with polymer is also a very popular service. Such joints work very well without knocking or squeaking, and last a lot longer than the factory originals.

Now you know the dangers that come with driving on bad roads. What's interesting is that some manufacturers know it too, and write it into the small print of their warranty service. As a result, you won't be able to count on a warranty repair of the running gear at the brand's technical centre, and replacing a steering rack costs around fifteen hundred dollars.

Now for a few simple tips on treating a steering rack with care. Keep a close eye on the condition of the protective boots! It's not uncommon for service technicians doing a wheel-alignment adjustment to loosen the boot clamps and then forget to tighten them back up. Don't crank the wheel right after starting the engine in winter. First let the oil in the power-steering system warm up a little by rocking the wheel gently. And, as they say, safe travels!