Steering gear malfunctions

Knocks, crackles, backlash, jamming and leaks are malfunctions that deprive the steering mechanism of the right to further operation.

A new one is very expensive, but fortunately, most gears can be successfully repaired or replaced with a remanufactured one.

Rack and pinion gears are used in almost all passenger cars. Most damage that occurs during normal use can be repaired successfully. Only gears with mechanical damage (bent blade, cracked housing) or after an accident are not repaired. The amount of repair varies depending on the type of damage. The most common repairs are leaks, play, and lack of assistance in one or both directions.

Fluid leaks from the gearbox are repaired by replacing all seals and grinding the gear rack. However, grinding can only be done to a limited extent (maximum 0,2mm) because the factory seals and bushings will not work properly with too thin a strip. Also, if the strip is corroded, it must be sanded. After repair, there should be no cavities on the surface.

Damage to rubber coatings can cause corrosion and leaks. Sand and water enter through the leaky cover, forming an abrasive mixture that destroys the gear very quickly. The cost of power steering restoration ranges from 400 to 900 zł. The scope of the repair includes checking the wear of the bar and replacing all seals. The seals are also replaced every time the gearbox is disassembled, even if they are still in good condition.

The cost of repairs should be increased by about PLN 100-200 for disassembly, assembly and alignment adjustment. Repair time should not exceed 6 hours.

Costs will be higher if tie rods, bushings, rubber boots or control valves need to be replaced. In many gears, the connecting rods are screwed into the rack, so any mechanic will replace the connecting rod or bushing without even removing the gear, and in some types, the connecting rods are fixed and then the connecting rods (bushings) must be replaced by a service technician. .

It is not worth buying a used gearbox, because it can be damaged and we will know its real condition only after installation in the car. Even if it works and works properly, it will probably soon depressurize or knock.

An alternative to used gears is to buy a remanufactured one with a warranty. The cost is about a few hundred PLN (Ford Escort - PLN 600, Audi A4 - PLN 700). It may also happen that replacing a gear with a remanufactured one will be cheaper than rebuilding your own. So let's think carefully before making a decision.