What are the consequences of excessive steering wheel free play?
1 Answers
Excessive steering wheel free play can cause the vehicle to respond too slowly during steering maneuvers. The specific details are as follows: 1. The so-called steering free play refers to a small range of movement where turning the steering wheel does not guide or change the vehicle's direction. For example, if you slowly and gently turn the steering wheel, you will feel a small range where there is no resistance. 2. Neither excessive nor insufficient free play is ideal. Excessive free play can lead to delayed response during steering maneuvers, while too little free play may cause the vehicle to deviate from its original trajectory with minimal input. 3. A certain amount of steering wheel free play is beneficial for absorbing road shocks, making steering smoother, and reducing driver fatigue. However, excessive free play can affect steering sensitivity and cause wheel wobble, compromising driving safety. The recommended free rotation angle for steering wheels is generally between 20 to 30 degrees. Therefore, during vehicle annual inspections, steering wheel free play becomes one of the critical checkpoints.