5 Causes Your Steering Wheel Feel Loose

Let's examine some of the most typical causes of a loose steering wheel and how to properly diagnose the problem to avoid replacing unnecessary parts.

Timecode:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:34 - Loose Steering Nut
00:00:54 - Worn Ball Joints
00:01:20 - Worn or Broken Pitman Arm
00:01:37 - Worn or Damaged Rack and Pinion
00:01:56 - Worn Tie Rods
00:02:19 - How to Diagnose?
00:02:48 - How To Fix?

[AnhH]

Common in old cars. My Tacoma 2000 was loose too, then I changed the inner and outer tie rod, sway bar link, sway bar link bushing and steering rack bushing. Drives much tighter now. It's a 20 yrs old car, and parts and rubber bushings do get worn out. Got smaller wheels and got it balanced and also an alignment. Much better, that I don't have to check the steering column pin (common in old Tacoma, which requires small tap weld to keep to not too loose).

[codymoreland]

Rack and pinion should make it a hell of a lot longer than 100k

[jabbaweezy]

I just nearly smacked into a light pole after hydroplanning 360 degrees on a highway exit.

[darrellbrown]

Holy snickers! I have 200, 500 miles on my 2011 Yukon. I guessI need to look at my steering.

[Dreamer]

I have a 2007 Ford escape xls 2.3 not hybrid. My steering wheel has been all over the place it will bind then it will have a lot of play. I had the U joint changed and sway bar links. And it's still the same a lot of knocking popping. Tires are tight but shake when moving the steering wheel. Rack is good and tie rods in and out are good. Any ideas?

[Skin-fe]

I feel like something is losing in the middle-bottom- steering column. What’s it called?I can hear the clunking noise too.

[jasonschannel]

I have a 2016 kia soul i have a tiny bit of loosens in my steering and going over bumps I hear a clunking sound that feels to be under my feet or close to it. Now I have been to 2 garages both said everything underneath is good. So I am clueless on what else it could be.

[Getrag]

This had no info on how to diagnose... it was intro'd that way but there was really no diagnostic info...
For example, you can follow all parts of your steering and have someone in the car while it's parked and turned on, jiggle the wheel back and forth only as far as the "free play" goes. Watch the different components to see where the movement stops.
For example, if someone jiggles it while you watch the rack and pinion, and the tie rods (long shafts that move left and right to push on the knuckle) don't move, then the issue is either there or upstream of that. If they do move, keep following the system down and see what doesn't move.

[donttalkoverbarz]

Hope someone can share some advice, I’ve had used steering rack, new tie rods, new wishbones, new wheel bearings, new tyres yet my steering is loose and keeps behaving like a Tesla

[DKNY-yhfp]

But a cun from Toyota can not detect this for 4 or 5 services. Can not complaints to toyota in Japan. I do not recommend using this brand. Thanks for video