Why am I having a hard time turning my steering wheel?
The most common cause of a stiff steering wheel is the lack of enough power steering fluid in the system. This condition can arise if there’s fluid leakage from the pressurized hose area. Refilling the liquid in the power steering tank will fix the problem for the time being, but the leak must be taken care of.
What causes poor steering return?
Typically, poor steering returnability is caused by steering gear that is too tight or improperly adjusted. Sticking or binding components, such as a king pin, ball joint, bell crank or even the steering column can prevent the steering wheel from returning to center after a turn.
Why is my steering wheel hard to turn?
Excessive play on the steering wheel, hard to turn or steering system leaks are among the most common power steering system problems. Depending on the particular issue, always start your diagnosis by checking for the most obvious, like low system fluid, a loose or worn drive belt or serpentine belt, and underinflated tires.
How big should the steering wheel be before the wheels turn?
This is perhaps one of the most common steering system problems. Normally, you shouldn’t be able to turn the steering wheel more than 1 1/2 inches (33mm) without causing the wheels to turn. So you know something is not right when you turn the steering wheel too much before the tires actually turn.
What causes a whining sound when you turn the steering wheel?
The power steering rack is responsible for supplying the steering rack with hydraulic fluid each time you turn the wheel. If you have a bad power steering rack, then the steering rack won’t get an adequate supply of this fluid. This will cause a whining sound to generate each time you turn the wheel.
How to diagnose a power steering problem?
Depending on the particular issue, always start your diagnosis by checking for the most obvious, like low system fluid, a loose or worn drive belt or serpentine belt, and underinflated tires.