For many motorists, one of the problems during 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 a vehicle inappropriately provokes the appearance of such a malfunction. In addition, the low quality of domestic roads will render any proven mechanism, even characterized by high reliability, unusable.
The malfunction, which 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 negatively 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 provide a chapter in which methods for increasing the service life of the steering will be described.
The principle of the mechanism
Rack control consists of the following components:
- rack;
- gear;
- steering shaft;
- steering gear;
- tips.
The principle of operation of this unit is as follows: when the steering wheel rotates, the force begins to be transmitted to the gear from the steering shaft. It ultimately drives the steering rack. The task of the rack is to convert the motion of the rotational to translational.
The causes of the malfunction
Having examined the basic principle 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 the malfunction may be:
- The formation of play in the places of engagement of the steering elements. This is due primarily to unsuitable for local roads design, which simply can not withstand heavy loads, as well as with constant driving by car on the road.
- As a result of wear of the parts, mud deposits get inside, which leads to corrosion. The resulting rust minimizes the quality of engagement, and knocks begin to appear during movement.
Preventive actions
It is quite difficult to exclude the complete occurrence of knocks in the steering rack, but it is possible (if simple rules are followed). Among the main preventive measures are:
- Complete ignoring of sharp braking and starts (of course, if there is no risk of an accident), since aggressive maneuvers greatly wear out steering mechanisms.
- You should not use the curb as a cut-off during parking, because insignificant wheel hits on it will subsequently be very deplorable.
- The same applies to running into a curb and similar difficult obstacles.
- Overcoming road bumps in the form of pits, bumps, lying police officers should be carried out at minimum speeds. Do not adhere to the rule: "more speed - less bumps." Any bump at speed is the strongest blow to the steering.
- Constant monitoring of the condition of oil seals and anthers on steering gears.
- Diagnostics at the manifestation of the slightest signs of malfunction.
Simple repair procedure
To the question of how to remove the knock of the steering rack on any of the machines, the answer is quite simple: you need to tighten the adjusting screw. This action, of course, will help to get around the vehicle for some time without any problems. But sometimes a strong tightening of the screw leads to a violation in the management, namely, the steering response worsens. When cornering, turning the steering wheel in the right direction will be very difficult, and as a result, driving discomfort and great fatigue will be present.
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 can be a simple rack or pinion or power steering assembly.
If the mechanism is of the first type, it is enough to unscrew the fastening of the steering tips, and then remove the engagement. If the car has a power steering, you must first drain the fluid and unscrew the high pressure pipes. It is worth noting that self-repair in the presence of 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 development are removed from it. Damaged items are restored and treated with a thin layer of chromium. Then all the elements are carefully polished.
These works are highly accurate, which makes it possible to extend the life of the steering rack. If in the mechanism corrosion of the support column is observed, then complete replacement of the part is indispensable. In any case, you can get rid of the problem, however, an initial diagnosis is necessary to determine the complexity of the repair.
Repair steering "Lada Kalina"
The knock of a steering rack "Kalina", like any other model of a domestic automobile plant, can demonstrate when operating on uneven surfaces. In addition, when driving, shock is transmitted to the steering wheel. Before carrying out repairs, you need to figure out why the steering rack is audible. “Lada Kalina” may make a knock due to a loosened adjusting screw or severe wear and tear and improper operation of the car.
For adjustment, you will need keys for 10 and 13, as well as a steering puller. To do this, there is no need to drive the car into a pit or onto 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 the key for 10, the terminals are removed, and the “battery cover” is turned off by a “cape” of 13.
After removing the battery, it is necessary to dismantle the stand underneath, which is mounted on 4 bolts. This will allow full access to the steering rack. On the bottom side of the case there is an adjusting bolt with an internal plastic cap, which also needs to be removed. After these procedures, use the special key to tighten the traction.
Adjustment Features
On a note! Tighten the adjusting bolt is not worth it very much, since during the movement, when turning, a dangerous phenomenon - biting - can occur.
It is necessary to adjust as follows: turn the bolt a maximum of 20 degrees, after which you need to ride and check whether the knock of the Lada Kalina steering rack has disappeared. If vibration remains, you can tighten the bolt again, but with a maximum of 15 degrees.
However, if a second pull-up did not produce any results, it is necessary to overhaul the steering rack. In this case, the replacement of steering tips, oil seals, anthers.
Troubleshoot Toyota
Despite the Japanese quality, a knock on the steering rack of the Toyota Corolla often emits. And motorists have to solve this problem. Named cars are very popular in Russia. Motorists now and then have to decide how to remove the knock of the steering rack. Toyota Corolla is most interested in them. It was very difficult to remove this problem before, but thanks to the wizards, there was still a way out.
It is necessary to purchase grease fittings for 6 or 8, high-quality grease and be patient with 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, 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 using a tap. After this, use a special sealant that is suitable only for threaded connections. As soon as it is applied, you need to screw the grease nipple into the hole and make lubrication in the rail.
To completely remove knocking you will need one cylinder with a volume of 400 ml. It is worth remembering that after extrusion, it is necessary to remove excess grease and close the oiler with a plastic cap.
Use only the grease that is suitable for Toyota car rails. In such a simple way, you can eliminate the knock in the steering rack (Toyota Tundra, including).
In other cases, the steering gear or pipe responsible for adjusting the steering wheel in height knocks on these vehicles. The mechanism must be diagnosed with the existing backlash of the cross.
How to eliminate the knock of the steering rack "Lacetti"
On Chevrolet Lacetti cars, this malfunction appears due to the worn out steering tips, the replacement of which will cost the owner much cheaper than the rack. Moreover, all work can be done independently.
Replacing two tips will take a little more than half an hour. However, this will save money and ensure the quality of the work performed. To replace the tips on the "Lacetti" will require two "cape" on 19 and 22, a wrench, a jack. In addition, the knock of the steering rack (“Lacetti” 1.6 SE is no exception) arises from failed struts or stabilizer bushings.
Thus, to eliminate the named malfunction is quite simple. Most often this can be done by 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.