Knocking in the steering rack: how to remove?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

For many motorists, one of the problems in the operation of the vehicle is a knock in the steering rack, which occurs over time. The problem is not due to poor construction quality. On the contrary, it is very reliable in itself, only the operation of the vehicle improperly provokes the appearance of this kind of malfunction. In addition, the poor quality of domestic roads will render any proven mechanism, even highly reliable, unusable.

A malfunction that relates directly to the steering rack, manifests itself in the form of knocks or creaks during the operation of the car. Knocks that appear in the steering rack can not only adversely affect the behavior of the car on the road, but also lead to an accident. Therefore, in this article we will consider not only how to eliminate the knock of the steering rack, but also the causes of the malfunction. Also for motorists we will providechapter, which will describe methods for increasing the life of the steering wheel.

The principle of operation of the mechanism

Rack control consists of the following components:

• toothed rack;
• gear;
• steering shaft;
• steering mechanism;
• tips.

The principle of operation of this node is as follows: when the steering wheel is rotated, force is transmitted to the gear from the steering shaft. It eventually drives the steering rack. The task of the rack is to convert the rotational motion into translational.

Causes of malfunction

Having considered the basic principle of operation of the device, it is not so difficult to understand the reasons why there is a knock in the steering rack. Most often, the causes of a malfunction can be:

1. The formation of play in the places of engagement of steering elements. This is primarily due to the construction, unsuitable for local roads, which simply cannot withstand heavy loads, as well as to the constant driving off-road.
2. As a result of worn parts, dirt deposits get inside, which leads to corrosion. The resulting rust minimizes the quality of the engagement, and knocks begin to appear during movement.

Prevention measures

It is quite difficult to exclude the complete appearance of knocks in the steering rack, but it is possible (if you follow simple rules). Among the main preventive measures are:

• Completely ignoring sudden braking and starting (of course, if there is no risk of an accident), sohow aggressive maneuvers wear out the steering mechanisms.
• Don't use the curb as a cut-off when parking, because minor hits from the wheel on it will have a very deplorable effect later.
• The same goes for running over a curb and similar difficult obstacles.
• Overcoming road roughness in the form of pits, potholes, lying policemen, should be carried out at minimum speeds. You should not adhere to the rule: "more speed - less bumps." Any bump at speed is the strongest blow to the helmsman.
• Constant monitoring of the condition of oil seals and anthers on steering mechanisms.
• Diagnosis at the slightest sign of malfunction.

Easy repair technique

To the question of how to remove the knock of the steering rack on any of the cars, the answer is quite simple: you need to tighten the adjusting screw. This action, of course, will help for some time to move on the vehicle without any problems. But sometimes a strong tightening of the screw leads to a violation in control, namely, the response of the steering wheel worsens. When cornering, it will be very difficult to turn the steering wheel in the right direction, and as a result, there will be driving discomfort and great fatigue.

An effective way to eliminate knocks

To remove the knock in the steering rack, just remove the shaft. Dismantling is carried out in accordance with which node is installed on the car. This could be a simple rack and pinion assembly or a power steering assembly.

If the mechanismthe first type, it is enough to unscrew the fastenings of the steering tips, and then remove the engagement. If the car has power steering, you must first drain the fluid and unscrew the high pressure pipes. It is worth noting that self-repair with an amplifier is quite complicated and requires experience in such work and the presence of an assistant.

After dismantling, the shaft must be machined. Traces of corrosion or wear are removed from it. Damaged elements are restored and treated with a thin layer of chrome. Then all elements are carefully polished.

These works are highly accurate, which makes it possible to extend the life of the steering rack. If corrosion of the support post is observed in the mechanism, then a complete replacement of the part is indispensable. In any case, you can get rid of the problem, but an initial diagnosis is necessary to determine the complexity of the repair.

Repair steering "Lada Kalina"

The knock of the Kalina steering rack, like any other model of a domestic automobile plant, can be demonstrated when operating on uneven surfaces. In addition, when driving, shocks are transmitted to the steering wheel. Before carrying out repairs, you need to figure out why the steering rack is heard. The Lada Kalina may make a knock due to a loose adjusting screw or heavy wear and improper operation of the car.

To adjust, you will need keys for 10 and 13, as well as a puller for the steering wheel. For this, there is no need to drive the car into a pit.or on a lift. All operations are carried out directly in the engine compartment.

To adjust the rail, you need to remove the battery, as its location interferes with ongoing work. Using a key for 10, the terminals are removed, and the battery fastening screed is unscrewed with a “cape” for 13.

After removing the battery, it is necessary to dismantle the stand under it, which is mounted on 4 bolts. This will give you full access to the steering rack. On the bottom side of the housing there is an adjusting bolt with an internal plastic cap, which must also be removed. After these procedures, with the help of a special key, you need to tighten the rod.

Adjustment features

Note! It is not worth tightening the adjusting bolt very much, because during movement, when turning, a dangerous phenomenon can occur - biting.

You need to adjust as follows: turn the bolt a maximum of 20 degrees, after which you need to ride and check if the knock of the Lada Kalina steering rack has disappeared. If the vibration remains, you can tighten the bolt again, but a maximum of 15 degrees.

However, if re-tightening does not give any results, it is necessary to overhaul the steering rack. In this case, the steering tips, oil seals, anthers are replaced.

Toyota Troubleshooting

Despite the Japanese quality, Toyota Corolla often makes knocks in the steering rack. And motorists have to solve this problem. Very popular in Russianamed cars. Motorists now and then have to decide how to remove the knock of the steering rack. Toyota Corolla interests them the most. Previously, it was very difficult to remove this problem, but thanks to the masters, a solution was still found.

You need to purchase grease fittings for 6 or 8, high-quality lubricant and be patient in your work. It is best to carry out work in a garage in a pit.

Further, in order to eliminate the knock of the steering rack, the Toyota Corolla is placed on a flat surface. Armed with a drill of the required diameter and a drill, it is necessary to drill a hole in the rail so that it is convenient not only to turn the grease fitting, but also to fill the rail with grease using a syringe.

The thread for the grease fitting is cut with a tap. After that, it is necessary to use a special sealant that is only suitable for threaded connections. As soon as it is applied, you need to screw the grease fitting into the hole and stuff the grease into the rail.

To completely remove knocks, you will need one 400 ml can. It is worth remembering that after injection, it is necessary to remove excess lubricant and close the oiler with a plastic cap.

Use only grease that is suitable for the racks of Toyota vehicles. In such a simple way, you can eliminate the knock in the steering rack ("Toyota Tundra", including).

In other cases, the steering wheel knocks on these carsa mechanism or pipe responsible for adjusting the steering wheel in height. The mechanism must be diagnosed for the existing play of the cross.

How to eliminate the knock of the Lacetti steering rack

On Chevrolet Lacetti cars, this malfunction appears due to worn-out steering tips, the replacement of which will cost the owner much cheaper than the rail. In this case, all the work can be done independently.

It will take a little over half an hour to replace two tips. However, this will save money and ensure the quality of the work performed. To replace the tips with the Lacetti, you will need two “cloaks” for 19 and 22, a balloon wrench, and a jack. In addition, the knock of the steering rack ("Lacetti" 1, 6 SE is no exception) occurs due to failed struts or stabilizer bushings.

Thus, it is quite simple to eliminate the named malfunction. Most often, you can do it yourself, without spending extra money on special workshops. However, before removing the knock of the steering rack, it is necessary to make a thorough diagnosis of the system.