Best Prices for Steering wheel feels loose Inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(56)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(56)


Steering wheel feels loose Inspection Service

A steering wheel that feels loose or has “play” in it prevents the driver form getting an accurate interpretation of how the wheels are turned. Any steering setup where you can move the wheel more than one to one and a half inches without moving the wheels is too lose and may have an issue. When the steering wheel feels loose it can be difficult from drivers to accurately know the position of the front wheels. This lack of responsiveness can be dangerous for drivers, especially in heavy traffic or winding roads.

How this system works:

The majority of modern vehicles use two different kinds of steering setup to help control the movement of the car. Rack and pinion steering is typically used on cars, small trucks and SUVs, while recirculating-ball steering is used on large SUVs and trucks. The similarities and differences in the two systems begin to manifest themselves when components fail, causing the steering wheel to feel loose.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Worn Tie Rods: Tie rods serve as the driver’s connection between the steering unit and the tires. Tie rods are present in both rack and pinion and recirculating ball setups. If tie rod ends become worn, they may cause the steering wheel to feel loose. A vehicle with worn tie rods may also squeak as the steering wheel is turned and be out of alignment.

  • Worn Pitman Arm: A pitman arm is only present in vehicles with recirculating-ball steering. The pitman arm connects a gear attached to the steering wheel to the steering rack itself. When the pitman arm becomes worn or the teeth in the gear connecting the pitman arm begin to slip, it can cause the steering wheel to feel loose.

  • Worn Ball Joint: Ball joints connect the vehicle’s wheel hubs to the rest of the suspension components. Depending on the vehicle, one or two ball joints per wheel and may or may not be load bearing. A ball joint that is worn may cause the steering to feel loose and may also create a banging sound, especially when going over bumps.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the reason for the loose-feeling steering. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report outlining the reason for the loose steering and the cost of any repairs that need to be made.

How it's done:

When the mechanic arrives, he or she will first lift the vehicle and remove the wheels so that they can better access the suspension and steering components. From here, the mechanic will be able to assess the reason why the steering has become loose.

If the mechanic suspects that worn tie rods may be the issue, he or she will inspect the tie rod for superficial damage. If the tie rod end had become worn or loose, the mechanic will remove it and replace it with a new one. The mechanic will also ensure after installation, that the new tie rod end is properly lubricated.

If the mechanic believes that the pitman arm has become worn, he or she will remove the pitman arm from the track bar and replace it with a new pitman arm. The mechanic should ensure that the new part is properly tightened.

If the mechanic suspects worn ball joints, he or she will remove the control arm(s) in order to access the faulty ball joint. He or she will then remove the old ball joint and replace it with a new one. The mechanic should also ensure that the new ball joint is properly lubricated in order to ensure longer life.

In the case of all repairs the mechanic will make sure that all the new parts have been installed correctly and are properly lubricated. In order to ensure that the steering is working properly, the mechanic may test drive the vehicle to check for excess play.

How important is this service?

A steering wheel that feels loose may not be giving an accurate indication of the front wheel’s position. Loose-feeling steering may also indicate that a problem has occurred with the steering unit or suspension. If you notice that the steering does not seem to be as responsive, you should stop driving the vehicle and have it inspected by a mechanic.


Recent Steering wheel feels loose Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(56)

Rating Summary
52
2
0
0
2
52
2
0
0
2

Lee

39 years of experience
294 reviews
Lee
39 years of experience
Chevrolet Malibu L4-2.4L - Steering wheel feels loose - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Totally a life saver he came and gave great customer service. I will recommend him. Thanks, Lee, for your services.

Stephen

33 years of experience
220 reviews
Stephen
33 years of experience
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 V8-4.8L - Steering wheel feels loose - Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Stephen is knowledgeable, fair, and efficient when handling his jobs. This is my second time using him through my mechanic's website and both times he went above and beyond.

Matthew

34 years of experience
1438 reviews
Matthew
34 years of experience
Toyota Tacoma V6-4.0L - Steering wheel feels loose Inspection - Yorktown, Virginia
Great experience! He is a very kind gentleman with expansive knowledge. He was able to provide me with all of the detailed information and more. This was my first experience with yourmechanic.com and I will definitely be a return customer. Thank you!

William

35 years of experience
731 reviews
William
35 years of experience
GMC G3500 V8-5.7L - Steering wheel feels loose Inspection - Peoria, Arizona
As usual, William was fantastic, and explained/showed me the issue in detail. He is very customer service oriented & extreamly knowledgeable!!!

Recent articles & questions

How to Get Cadillac Dealership Certified
Cadillac car dealerships offer automotive technician jobs to mechanics who are certified through one of the many Cadillac training programs.
P2776 OBD-II Trouble Code: Upshift Switch Circuit Low
P2776 means a problem signal was detected from the upshift switch circuit usually due to electrical issues or liquid being spilled on the switch.
How Much Does a Mechanic Make in Wisconsin?
Automotive technician jobs in Wisconsin have an average mechanic salary of $38k, which is higher than the national average.

What does the Speed Control light mean on the dash?

The Speed Control light should be on in your dash, but the color of the light will change depending on whether the system is on or off. The light looks like a tiny version of your speedometer. If the light...

Chrysler 3.8 L. T&C power steering rack and pump replacement.

As you may know, the power steering rack pumps power steering fluid through a series of small reed valves that help to produce hydraulic pressure as the system is pressurized by the pump. This is what allows the power steering...

I have a bad knock sensor. Is it worth replacing?

Hello. Yes, you are correct - the P0325 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0325-obd-ii-trouble-code-knock-sensor-malfunction-sensor-1-bank-1-by-spencer-clayton) is indicative of a failed knock sensor (or the knock sensor wiring). I think it is a rare circumstance where you would not want to make this repair. It is straightforward...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

+1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com