7 Causes the Steering Wheel Feels Heavy, Have you ever had trouble driving a car? Especially on the steering system, for example the steering wheel feels heavy unlike usual? This is natural when you drive a car in extream terrain. However, if this happens on ordinary terrain it means that there is a problem with your car’s steering system or power steering system.
Basically the function of power steering is to smooth the steering wheel to be easy to control. Heavy steering wheel may be an indication of damage to the power steering system. For that you need to know what caused it.
Well, on this occasion the author will share about the causes and how to overcome the heavy steering wheel on all auto pals.
7 Causes the Steering Wheel Feels Heavy
Generally there are several factors that cause the steering wheel to become heavy. Here are the causes of the steering wheel to be heavy complete with how to deal with it:
Dry Power Steering Oil or Over The Change Period
The power steering system used in today’s cars is a hydraulic system. Where the power steering requires fluid (oil) to run it. Unlike the cars of old who are not familiar with hydraulic systems. Therefore, to drive a car in the old days is quite draining.
Generally, power steering oil is used in hydraulic system type ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid). The oil used is a special oil that is able to survive at high temperatures and pressures (friction).
But there are times when the oil will degrade or decrease in quality due to the time of use. If the oil has been degraded then its ability to lubricate and deliver power will be reduced. Thus the power generated by the power steering pump cannot be channeled completely to the steering rack. Well, this is what makes the steering wheel feel heavy.
See Also :
- Change The Power Steering Oil Routinely to Keep the Light Weight
- Causes of Power Steering Fluid Leaks, and Its Effect on the Machine
- 10 Universal Power Steering Fluid Recommendations For Your Car
In addition to the degradation factor, the lack of power steering oil also affects the distribution of power from the pump to the steering rack. Because if the oil is less automatic the power channeled can not be optimal.
For the solution, you just have to check in advance how the quality of power steering oil in your car. If the color is already black, then immediately to replace it with a new oil. Generally, power steering oil changes are performed at 25,000 to 30,000 kilometers. But if it is still yellowish red you do not need to replace it just check the volume. Please fill in if the amount is less.
Steering Rack Damaged
Steering rack serves as a power system that facilitates wheel movement. Inside are components such as seals, gears and pinions. To produce wheel motion these components are interconnected which are affected by hydraulic pressure (oil).
In this way, steering racks are often damaged. Especially on seal components. Usually the most frequent damage is a leaking seal. This will result in hydraulic pressure given the power steering pump to be not maximal. The resulting steering wheel feels heavy and difficult to drive.
In such cases the solution is to replace a set of steering racks. Because if you just replace the seal that leaked it’s hard to do. In addition to the complicated process, there is also no workshop that is willing just to replace the leaking seal rack. See Also : 7 Ways To Maintain Power Steering To Avoid Damage
Weak Pump Pressure
Indicators of the weight or not of a steering wheel rotation are affected by hydraulic pressure provided by the power steering pump. The location of the pump itself is on the front and the pump pulley is moved by the engine pulley through the v belt.
If the power steering pump is damaged it will cause the hydraulic pressure given to be down. So the steering wheel will be heavy.
To overcome this, the solution is only one is to replace the power steering pump with a new one.
V-Belt Damaged or Broken
The v-belt function itself as a connector between the pump pulley and the engine pulley. Generally v-belt is made of rubber, because flexible material will minimize the occurrence of slips. However, rubber v-belts are prone to break up. This can be due to the long age of the v-belt itself.
However, a broken v-belt can also be caused by a dripping oil spill during an engine oil change. Slippery pulley conditions trigger slips and can make the v-belt break.
If the v-belt has been broken then the movement of the power steering pump will stop. Automatically, the steering wheel will be heavy to move because it does not get hydraulic pressure from the pump.
For the solution you just have to replace the v-belt with a new one. If the pump and engine pulleys look dirty or there are oil droplets then you should clean them first before making a v-belt change.
Long Tie Rod Broken
The next component that allows the steering wheel to be heavy is the long tie rod or often also called the inner tie rod. This one component is an elongated iron rod that connects the output from rack steer to steering knucle. At the end there are components such as balls (ball joints) that as hinges. The problem that is often experienced in long tie rod usually lies in this ball joint.
It could be, because often experienced a shock ball joint will omblak. So that the steering wheel when twisted will vibrate and sound or even weigh next door.
The solution to overcome it you only need to replace one unit of long tie rod that is for the right and left side.
Lack of Wind Tire Condition
It is not always the condition of the steering wheel that is heavy caused by the problematic power steering components. The condition of the tire that is less windy or deflated can also cause the steering wheel to become heavy. This is because the tire surface is getting wider and the pressure given to the wheel is getting bigger. So that makes the steering wheel heavy or difficult to drive.
To deal with the pump just pump your car tires and make sure it is under normal pressure.
Setting FWA Not Right
If you notice, it turns out that the wheels of the car are not completely 0 degrees. The position of the lower wheel will look more prominent out than the top. This is called the corner chamber. This term is commonly used in FWA (front wheel alignment) that is, the action to adjust the position of the wheel.
The position of the wheels is arranged in such a way as to lighten the steering wheel or steering wheel. However, over time and the length of time the use of the car position may change. If your car is already experiencing symptoms such as a steering wheel that cannot return to the middle automatically or the steering wheel starts to weigh it could be that the FWA begins to change.
Solution to solve it, you need to consult this to the wheel balancing place. There your car will get service related to wheel angle and wheel stability or in its term known as spooring balancing.
That was the discussion about the causes and how to overcome heavy car steering wheel. Hopefully this article can help oto buddy all in overcoming problems on the steering wheel.
