Does a Broken Steering Gear Need to Be Replaced?
1 Answers
A damaged steering gear must be replaced. When the steering gear is damaged, it can lead to a lack of power assistance, making steering difficult or causing the power steering to fail entirely. This results in no power assistance and noticeable stiffness during operation. Issues such as excessively heavy steering, the steering gear locking up and preventing turning, and even abnormal tire wear can occur. The steering gear is one of the most commonly seen steering mechanisms. Its basic structure consists of a pair of meshing pinion gears and a rack. When the steering shaft rotates the pinion, the rack moves linearly. In some cases, the rack directly drives the tie rod, enabling the steering wheels to turn. To dampen steering wheel vibrations, steering dampers are often added to systems with rack-and-pinion steering gears. Daily maintenance tips for the steering gear: When driving on uneven or bumpy roads, reduce speed to minimize the load on the steering gear. Regularly inspect the protective boots on both sides of the steering gear and the condition of the boot connecting the steering gear to the universal joint. Damaged boots are the primary cause of early wear and failure in steering gears. Once a boot is damaged, water, dust, and sand can enter the steering gear, disrupting the lubricating grease film on the rack and pinion. This leads to internal rusting, abnormal wear, and other issues. If the internal contaminants are not promptly removed, the steering gear can quickly become irreparable. Therefore, inspect the dust boots at least once a month. If any damage is found, replace them immediately and conduct a thorough inspection and maintenance of the steering gear beforehand. Due to the harsh operating conditions and heavy loads, the steering gear requires specialized lubricating grease, as ordinary grease cannot meet its performance demands.