Steering You Right (Power Steering Signs of Problems)
March 9, 2025
Nearly every modern vehicle on the road today has power steering, a wonderful invention that makes steering take far less effort than it did in the "good old days." Today, we take our steering for granted: until something goes wrong, that is.
Most power steering these days is rack-and-pinion, the rack being a metal bar between the front wheels with notches in it and the pinion being a gear whose teeth fits into those notches. Adding power assist makes it easy to turn. That assist comes in the form of hydraulic fluid that is pressurized by a pump powered by the engine, an electric motor that adds a power assist or a system that uses both an electric motor and hydraulic fluid.
Your vehicle usually gives you a heads up that something is going wrong with its steering. Here are a few signs to look for:
- A humming, whirring, rubbing or grinding sound coming from you engine compartment when you turn.
- Signs of hydraulic fluid leaking, such as wet spots under your vehicle.
- The smell of burning oil while you're driving.
- Steering wheel hard to turn or vibrating.
If you notice any of these signs, it's a good idea to have a trained technician check them out. They may be signs of:
- Power steering pump going bad
- Steering rack or gear seals wearing out, causing them to lose hydraulic fluid
- Broken fluid hose
- Defective power steering cooler
- Loss of pressure in the power steering gearbox
- Worn out steering pump belt
- Failing electric power steering motor
It's important to have these checked out sooner rather than later. You need to be able to steer properly in order to drive safely. Plus, some of these problems can cause more serious—and expensive—damage if they're not fixed. Power steering is a wonderful feature of your vehicle. Keep it well maintained and it will steer you right.
Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775
Need Service?
More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto
Don?t Blow Your Cool (Water Pump Replacement)
November 9, 2025
Its always a good idea to keep your cool, and thats especially true when it comes to some components of your vehicle. One is the engine. Its hot under that hood thanks to the mini explosions that are occurring in the internal combustion engine when its running. Your vehicle has a cooling syste... More
(Ball Joint Replacement)
November 2, 2025
Every day that goes by, our bodies get a little more wear and tear on them. Our vehicles have the same issue. The older we get and the farther we travel, certain parts start showing some wear. Think of your hips. There are parts of our vehicles that are similar to them; just like hips allow y... More
No Fuel-ing! (Fuel Filter Replacement)
October 27, 2025
Your vehicle has a few filters you might be somewhat familiar with. Theres the oil filter that removes impurities from your engines oil, and a couple of different kinds of air filters that prevent contaminants from getting into the engine and the cabin. But you may not know that your vehicle als... More