Why is the steering wheel heavy?
2 Answers
Steering wheel heavy reasons are: 1. Insufficient tire pressure; 2. Contaminated power steering fluid; 3. Internal failure of the power assist system; 4. Poor bearing lubrication. The working principle of a car steering wheel is to transmit torque to the rack and pinion mechanism, thereby pushing the wheels to turn left or right. Solutions for a heavy steering wheel include: 1. Replenishing hydraulic power steering fluid; 2. Replacing circuit fuses; 3. Replacing flat bearings and replenishing kingpin grease; 4. Increasing lubrication for the steering tie rod ball joint pins. Steering wheels are categorized into: single-spoke, double-spoke, three-spoke, and four-spoke steering wheels.
I've often encountered the issue of heavy steering, mainly due to faults in the power steering system. Older cars mostly rely on hydraulic power steering, such as leaks in the power steering pump, insufficient fluid, or loose belts, which can reduce the power assist effect, making the steering wheel naturally heavier. For electric vehicles, problems with the electric motor or unstable battery power supply can also cause this. Once on a long trip, the hot weather caused the oil temperature to rise, and the power steering pump suddenly failed, making steering extremely difficult. I recommend first checking if the power steering fluid level is normal. If it's low, top it up. If there's no improvement, take it to a shop to inspect the hydraulic system. Don't underestimate this problem, as struggling to turn can lead to accidents, especially when losing control at high speeds is very dangerous. Addressing it promptly ensures safety and saves on repair costs.
