When you go to turn the steering wheel, you want it to be easy. That’s because old power steering fluid can cause your power steering pump and other steering components to wear prematurely and can lead to extra maintenance costs. However, that doesn’t mean you should neglect to change your fluids. Power steering fluid usually is good for 70,000 to 100,000 miles, but you likely won’t notice significant impacts to how hard it is to turn the steering wheel until long after that. As it gets older, it breaks down, and you need to swap it out. Power steering fluid is just like every other fluid in your engine. However, before you start feeling anything, your tires are likely to be extremely low.įurthermore, even if your tires are extremely low, including a flat tire, it will still be easier to turn the steering wheel than it would be with a broken serpentine belt or a totaled power steering pump. The lower the air pressure, the harder it will be to turn. If you have low tire pressure, you might find it harder to turn the steering wheel. Even worse, if you do force the component, it might break other system components like the power steering pump. This puts a ton of extra stress on the entire system and can make it hard to turn the wheel. But if you have a snapped or damaged component, you have to force those components past the damaged area. When everything is working the way it should, every component has space to move, and it’s easy to turn the wheel. Keep in mind that if you run your power steering pump for too long without enough fluid, you’ll wind up damaging the pump! Damaged Steering Components If you are low on fluid, you can’t just add fluid and call it good though, there is a leak somewhere, and you need to repair it.
Just like with a broken power steering pump, if you’re low on power steering fluid, you’ll likely hear some noises coming from the engine bay – especially as you try to turn. While it’s a sealed system, if the system leaks, you’re going to run into problems sooner rather than later. Your power steering pump needs fluid to operate. However, the first thing you might notice is that’s it’s extremely hard to steer. That’s because the serpentine belt also controls the air conditioning, the engine fan, the water pump, the alternator, and more! However, if a broken serpentine belt is the problem, you’ll have more problems than just a hard to turn the steering wheel.
Without a functioning power steering pump, it’s going to be hard to turn the steering wheel. The power steering pump is belt-driven in most car models, so if the belt snaps, then the motor won’t work. In modern cars, you most often have an electric power steering pump, which can also fail. If you suspect that your power steering pump is starting to break, you should replace it as soon as possible, so it doesn’t fail completely while you’re driving! Power steering pumps can either break down slowly or fail completely. If the power steering pump is the issue, you’ll likely hear many loud engine noises. Your power steering pump is what makes everything easy to turn to begin with, so it makes sense that if it’s not working properly, you’ll have a hard time turning the steering wheel. So, if you’re experiencing this problem, you’re going to want to fix it as quickly as possible.īelow we’ve highlighted the five most six most common reasons for a hard to turn steering wheel. There are few problems more concerning than the inability to turn your steering wheel. Older cars used to have much larger steering wheels to help you with this, but modern vehicles have become dependent on this power steering system, and the steering wheels have shrunk as a result. Without the power steering pump, you have to provide all the necessary force to turn the wheel. Incorporated into that system is your power steering pump, which helps you push the rack and pinion. As you turn, the rack and pinion push one way or the other, which turns your wheels. This steering column connects your steering wheel to the rack and pinion. Most vehicles have a steering column that the steering wheel is attached to, and when you turn the wheel, what you’re actually turning is this steering column. When everything is working the way, it should you don’t have to worry about anything else, and it runs like magic.īut what’s really happening involves a lot more work. When you turn the steering wheel, it starts a mechanical process that turns your wheels the way you’re trying to go. Conclusion The Basic Mechanical Breakdown
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