Is it harmful to the car to turn the steering wheel while stepping on the brake in place?
3 Answers
Turning the steering wheel while stepping on the brake in place can cause damage to the car's tires and power steering structure. The details are as follows: 1. Accelerated tire wear: When turning the steering wheel in place, the wheels roll in a circular motion with the steering knuckle axis as the center, which hinders the rolling of the wheels, resulting in friction sounds between the wheels and the ground. It also creates a relative motion trend between the friction blocks and the brake discs. Frequent turning of the steering wheel in place will accelerate the wear of the front tires, increasing driving safety risks. 2. Damage to the power steering mechanism: Frequent turning of the steering wheel in place can damage the power steering mechanism, increasing its workload and accelerating its aging and wear.
When I first started driving, I used to always press the brake while steering to reverse. Later, a mechanic gave me a lesson. Not only does this chew up the tires, but it mainly damages the steering gear! The ball joints of the steering linkage under our wheels are like human knees—forcing the steering wheel while pressing the brake is like twisting the joint under pressure, causing metal parts to grind against each other. For cars with electric power steering, the motor works overtime and can easily overheat. My old Ford Focus ruined its steering gear this way, and when repairing it, the mechanic shook his head at the greasy dust cover, saying the oil seal had been squeezed out. Now when parking, I let the car move first before steering to avoid spending thousands on replacing the steering gear.
After 15 years as a mechanic, this is the parking habit I dread most. You might think locked wheels are caused by stuck brake pads, but when brake discs and pads are seized, forcibly turning the steering wheel first damages the universal joint on the tie rod. Last year, I replaced a Highlander's steering gear for this exact issue—the top mount's plain bearing was worn into pits, creating awful squeaks when turning. It's worse with older hydraulic power steering systems, causing instant pressure spikes in the pump lines. Once serviced an Audi with a torn CV boot, its grease splattered across the entire wheel hub—all from the owner's daily habit of turning wheels while stationary. The real concern now? Many modern cars have auto-hold; drivers must break the habit of steering while braking at traffic lights.
