How to eliminate play in the steering

Often the driver is faced with such a malfunction as steering play. This problem can lead to serious problems, so it is important to detect and fix the problem in time.

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Steering is one of the main things to drive, and a breakdown in the form of play is not one of the pleasant situations. Often the cause of the appearance can be different reasons, this is a bad chassis, wear of parts, and, most often, the condition of our roads. Therefore, we will consider how to identify play in the steering and how it is worth repairing.

The concept and causes of backlash in the steering mechanism

The design of the steering itself is not complicated. It contains a special rod that does not fit snugly against the parts of the car. It must have a small gap so that the parts do not wear out in case of friction. However, if the total play reaches quite large values, this can cause serious malfunctions, which can lead to accidents on the road. A play of 10° is considered acceptable.

It is important to remember that a small play can turn into a large one, and therefore you should carefully consider this issue if there are obvious signs of steering problems. These signs can be knocking, creaking, vibration, or the need to turn the steering wheel hard to the left or right, even on a flat road. In this case, the steering wheel stops “obeying” the driver or performs actions with a few delays.

There are several reasons for the appearance of backlash and they all lie in the steering design itself. One of the first reasons could be that the tip or bearing has failed due to wear.

The second reason may be a recent car repair, namely the fact that sometimes the central hub nut is not fixed enough. This is where the backlash comes from. Also, free play in the steering wheel can signal that the hydraulic oil is becoming unusable and needs to be replaced.

In general, in order to find the true cause of technical problems, the driver must check every detail of the entire steering system, since all parts and mechanisms are interconnected.

How to determine the appearance of play in the steering

In order to check the car for problems with the steering, namely the presence of play, the following operations must be performed. First of all, it is necessary to transfer the engine to a special mode of operation on a stationary vehicle - idling. After that, you should start turning the steering wheel and monitor the response time of the wheels to these commands. It is this distance that shows the amount of backlash.

To date, for the convenience and accuracy of measuring backlash, there is a special device - a backlash meter. It helps to measure and control the total backlash.

Elimination of backlash in the steering

First of all, the check should begin with the universal joint and its screws. Turn the adjusting screw to the desired value. After, again check the presence and amount of play. In case of unsatisfactory performance, do the job again.

If this does not help, then the cause of the breakdown lies elsewhere. The next step is to drive the car into the inspection hole. The backlash problem may be in the tie rod joints. Most likely, these parts are worn out and there is a need for their replacement or strong fixation. You should also check the fastening of the steering rods and, if necessary, tighten them.

However, if this did not eliminate the cause, then most likely it will be necessary to disassemble the entire steering system. It is better to do this in car services, as there is a risk of damaging the system.

The cost of repair to eliminate backlash in the steering

The price of the backlashmeter device is quite high and ranges from $400 to $800. Separate steering parts are presented with the following prices: bearing - from $12, nut retainer - from $16, steering rack stem - from $50, tie rod joint - from $16. In a car service, repairs will cost $20 or more, depending on the required service.

Steering play video: