What faults occur when the steering gear gets water inside?

[VonKarter]

There will be abnormal noises when turning the steering wheel in place, and the noises occur both when stationary and when driving at speeds not exceeding 20 km/h. Below is relevant information about the steering gear: 1. Introduction: The automobile steering gear, also known as the steering mechanism or steering box, is the most important component in the automobile steering system. Its function is to amplify the force transmitted from the steering wheel to the steering linkage and to change the direction of force transmission. 2. Types of steering gears: (1) Rack and pinion steering gear: This is the most common type of steering gear. Its basic structure consists of a pair of meshing small gears and a rack. When the steering shaft drives the small gear to rotate, the rack moves in a straight line. Sometimes, the rack directly drives the tie rod, enabling the steering wheels to turn. Therefore, this is the simplest type of steering gear. Its advantages include simple structure, low cost, sensitive steering, compact size, and the ability to directly drive the tie rod. It is widely used in automobiles. (2) Worm and sector steering gear: This type of steering gear uses a worm as the driving part and a sector as the driven part. The worm has trapezoidal threads, and finger-shaped conical pins are supported by bearings on the sector, which is integrated with the steering arm shaft. When steering, the worm is rotated via the steering wheel, and the conical pins embedded in the worm's spiral groove rotate while moving in an arc around the steering arm shaft, thereby driving the sector and steering arm to swing and causing the steering wheels to turn through the steering linkage. This type of steering gear is typically used in trucks that require greater steering force. (3) Recirculating ball steering gear: The recirculating ball power steering system mainly consists of two parts: the mechanical part and the hydraulic part. The mechanical part includes the housing, side cover, upper cover, lower cover, recirculating ball screw, rack nut, rotary valve core, and sector gear shaft. There are two pairs of transmission pairs: one is the screw and nut, and the other is the rack and sector gear or sector gear shaft. Between the screw and the rack nut, there are recirculating steel balls that convert sliding friction into rolling friction, thereby improving transmission efficiency. The advantages of this type of steering gear are easy operation, minimal wear, and long service life. The disadvantages are complex structure, higher cost, and steering sensitivity that is not as good as that of the rack and pinion type.

[OHolden]

Last time when water got into my car's steering gear, the steering immediately became extremely heavy. Turning the steering wheel felt like the tires were stuck in mud—it wouldn't budge without significant force. I noticed internal moisture caused rusting, and the lubricating grease failed, so the power steering pump also started squealing with an unbearably sharp noise. The scariest part was that after water corroded the metal components, the power steering completely failed. Once during a turn, I nearly had an accident because the wheels wouldn’t respond at all. Later inspection revealed damaged seals, with fluid leaking and oil stains everywhere. The mechanic warned that if not addressed promptly, the entire steering gear would be ruined. If water causes a short circuit in electronic components, the dashboard will light up warning indicators—so never underestimate the risks of water ingress. Always check immediately after driving through water; safety comes first.

[VanHaley]

As a frequent driver, I've noticed severe water ingress in the steering gear. The steering feel suddenly becomes stiff and sticky, sometimes pausing during turns, posing a high risk of loss of control. Water intrusion causes internal components to rust or corrode, damaging the hydraulic or electric power steering system, making normal turns difficult and accompanied by alarming creaking noises. Prolonged water exposure can lead to complete loss of steering power, especially dangerous at high speeds. It may also cause fluid leaks, contaminating other components. I recommend checking the steering gear's seals after water exposure and repairing promptly to prevent worsening—this is no trivial matter, it's about driving safety.

[VonLola]

Common faults after the steering gear gets waterlogged include heavy and unresponsive steering, making turns laborious; strange noises emanating from inside, resembling rust friction; component corrosion leading to power assistance failure; frequent oil leaks; and potential triggering of electronic fault indicators. If left unrepaired, the consequences can be severe.