Steering is a combination of the mechanisms by which the car moves in the direction specified by the driver. The pressure from the steering mechanism goes to the steering gear, which ensures that the front wheels rotate in the necessary direction.
A malfunction of at least one of these nodes can lead to an accident on the road.
What is steering rack
Cars "Renault Megan-2" have steering with rack and pinion mechanism and a steering column, the angle of which can be adjusted. Cars were produced with both hydraulic and electric power steering.
The control wheel is mounted on the splines of the steering shaft with a self-locking nut and is equipped with an airbag module.
The steering shaft consists of upper, middle and lower sections. Middle - non-separable, with two cardan joints at the ends.
Steering rack "Renault Megan-2" transmits momentum to the wheels and provides control of the car. In good condition, it does not make any sounds, and the effort from the steering wheel transfers without delay.
In the case when a knock appears on this unit, especially on irregularities, and returns to the steering wheel, which does not take its initial position after turning, the car goes for repair, as there is a problem in the rail.
Steering rack components
Steering rack "Renault Megan-2" consists of:
- the rack itself (shaft with teeth), to which the tie rods and tips are screwed;
- a shaft connected to a cardan of the electric power steering;
- needle and ball bearings;
- adjusting cracker;
- nuts for fastening crackers;
- bushings.
According to the reviews of Renault Megan-2 owners, self-repairing the steering rack is a rather time-consuming process: removal alone can take an hour. And the most capricious detail - the sleeve - often breaks down during dismantling and creates additional problems.
And the steering rack repair kit for Renault Megane-2 is not provided. We have to pick up similar parts from other cars.
Common problems
The most common steering rack failure symptoms are:
- A puddle of oil, especially after prolonged parking. This is a sign of damage to the seals. This happens when the steering rack boot is damaged or improperly installed. As a result, dirt and water get on the stem. In this case, it will be sufficient to replace the seals, bushings and o-rings.
- Backlash. Most often, the appearance of play is due to a malfunction of the steering spider, but there may be other reasons. Therefore, it is recommended first of all to diagnose the entire unit, identify malfunctions, replace the used parts and carry out adjustment on a special stand.
- A knock on the steering rack. It appears if the sliding bushings, the clamping mechanism or the boot are worn out. Here you will need diagnostics and verification at the stand with the subsequent replacement of parts.
How to tighten the rail
Before you begin the time-consuming process of repair and replacement, it is worth trying to tighten the steering rack Renault Megane-2. This work will require skill and several extension cords for a 12 "key. For greater convenience, it is worth skipping over the subframe. Do not tighten the adjusting bolt strongly, as the steering wheel will have to be rotated with extra effort.
- We put the car on a lift.
- Remove protection.
- By touch we determine the location of the adjusting bolt.
- The key gradually turn the bolt.
- We periodically rotate the steering wheel in different directions, thereby checking the presence of extraneous sounds in the work of the rail.
- We finish tightening the bolt when the sounds disappear when turning the steering wheel.
In a situation where the adjustment of the bolts does not eliminate the knock, you should resort to repair or a complete replacement. In the absence of a repair kit at the service station, they propose to completely replace the assembly; accordingly, the price of the Renault Megan-2 steering rack will be several times higher than an independent replacement of its worn out elements.
Withdrawal
To get to this node, you need to remove the right wheel and subframe, unscrew the nut on the steering tip to remove it. Unscrew the steering wheel to the left to the stop and remove the anther clamps of the rack. Unscrew the lock nut of the tip and the tip itself. Remove the boot. Unscrew the traction.
We remove the rail from the car and clamp it in a vice.
Disassembly plan
Disassemble the steering rack in stages. In order to better imagine in what order it is necessary to dismantle the elements, a schematic drawing of the Renault Megan-2 steering rack is presented below.
- We twist the screw directly into the oil seal on the steering shaft by no more than 1 cm and with the help of pliers we get this oil seal. Then we get the self-tapping screw from the oil seal.
- The snap ring is removed using a special puller.
- We fix the steering shaft in a vice and, gently tapping the rack housing, remove it together with the bearing.
- We remove the sleeve by prying it with a screwdriver and also tapping lightly on the rail.
- Unscrew the nut cracker and remove it.
- All removed parts must be thoroughly rinsed.
There is another bearing in the steering rack that is difficult to remove. Some craftsmen knock it out with honed bolts 10 "and 13". But there are those who separately take out the needles and pieces of the case, and knock out the outer clip by drilling a rail from the back. In any case, it will have to be changed.
The disassembled rail is degreased, processed by cold welding and left to dry for 6 hours. A rag or paper is placed in the bearing seat so that welding does not get there.
After thorough drying, the rail is re-wiped.
The bearing on the steering shaft has a snap ring. It is disposable: after removal back it can no longer be installed. So you can cut it with a jigsaw and remove it with narrow pliers. The bearing is also dismantled irrevocably (you can use a hammer).
Assembly
The new bearing is pressed onto the steering shaft, the snap ring is put on. While this design can be put aside. Rail assembly is carried out in several stages:
- The sleeve is carefully installed on the rail on the right and filled with grease.
- The shaft is inserted into the sleeve. Here you have to make an effort.
- Then the shaft is centered and treated with grease.
- A needle bearing is put on its free end.
- Turn the shaft in the correct position relative to the rail and gently hammer it into the housing.
- The left side of the shaft is pulled with a nut.
- Unscrewing the rail alternately left and right, lubricate the place of pressing the shaft with a cracker.
- Install the nut, spring and cracker.
- Put on a lock ring and an epiploon.
Rail adjustment
The process of adjusting the operation of a repaired rail is also suitable for diagnostics:
- We tighten the nut of the cracker until it stops, and then we turn it off 180 ° .
- We turn the rail to the right, and pull the shaft to the side of it.
- We turn the rail to the left and repeat the procedure with the shaft.
- We center the rail. And again we pull the shaft in different directions.
At each of these points, the shaft must maintain its position relative to the rail, but spin. Steering rack repair "Renault Megan-2" is completed. Now we fasten the traction and install it on the car. The whole process takes an average of 3 hours.
After replacing the steering rack "Renault Megan-2" you need to align. Otherwise, all the work done will be in vain.
How to reduce repair costs
By following simple rules, you can prevent serious breakdowns in the steering column and reduce the cost of buying parts.
- If the car is equipped with a hydraulic power steering, it is worth checking the color of the hydraulic fluid at least once a month (it should be transparent) and timely replacing it. The black color of this fluid indicates that the pump will soon fail, and with it the entire steering rack. Unfortunately, the power steering system does not have a fine filter. Accordingly, various particles can contaminate the liquid, which pollute it, and act on the rack to form the rack.
- Inspect the anthers periodically, especially after repairing the front suspension. They should not be twisted, have cracks and tears. If there are defects on them, even small ones, it is worth replacing the anthers.
- In case of a rumbling sound or a knock when turning the steering wheel, you should immediately take up the diagnosis and subsequent repair of the steering rack Renault Megan-2.
- Due to long-term operation, there is a risk of airing the power steering system. You can remove air from the system by scrolling the steering wheel 5 times from one side to the other until it stops. If this does not help, then the specialists of the service station will pump the system with high pressure.
- If there is a sound from the rotation of the steering wheel during parking, you need to inspect the drive shafts, CV joint anthers, pillow block, external and internal joints.