Why Is The My Steering Wheel Hard To Turn

Steering Wheel: Why Is It Hard To Turn?

The steering system of your vehicle has a crucial role in the control mechanism. This offers control over the direction in which the driver wants to guide the vehicle. The problem with the steering wheel can be really frustrating and can be equally dangerous because it can lead to accidents while driving. So, to prevent these accidents, understanding why my steering wheel is hard to turn is essential. In this post, let's see the reason why your steering wheel is hard to turn:

Why is your steering wheel hard to turn?

Lack of regular maintenance and late servicing, along with the wearing off of some components, are the reasons for the stiffness of your steering wheel. It is a must to know about them as these will help you identify the signs earlier and take the vehicle to service before the issues worsen.

• Bad Steering Rack

The steering rack of your vehicle is joined to the wheel through a series of shafts and U joints. Just because of everyday driving, these parts and the rack itself get damaged and worn off. If you are finding any stiffness with the steering wheel after starting the vehicle, then the problem will definitely be with the steering rack.

The steering wheel will slowly feel free to move when you continue to drive. This is because the rack gets hotter when the engine is running. It allows the lubricant to settle in. You can continue to drive your vehicle in this condition. However, leaving the rack worse will escalate the problem.

• Damaged Serpentine Belt

The other common reason for your steering wheel hard to turn is a cracked or broken serpentine belt. The belt will get worn out over time when you drive your vehicle.

When the belt begins to erode and becomes loose, the steering wheel of your vehicle will start showing signs of stiffness. If you delay the repair or replacement of this belt, it will cause the belt to break, which will make the steering wheel break.

• Fluid Leakage

Insufficient fluid level in your steering system is another major reason for the stiffness of your steering wheel. This happens when the pressurized hose area develops a leak or gets loose.

Fluids will lead via that crack, which leads to the reduction of pressure in the system and drying out the pump. Ultimately, the wheel will not get enough supply of fluid to perform freely.

• Thick Fluid

Like all other types of fluid in a vehicle, the power of steering fluid will collect dirt and debris over time. Not changing it within the stipulated time causes the fluid to be too thick to flow freely and lubricate all parts of the system.

This particularly makes it hard to turn the steering wheel at low speed. The only solution for this is to flush the old fluid and refill it with new, fresh fluid.

• Tire Pressure

Shockingly, bad air pressure in your tire can also be a cause for the stiffness of wheel steering. This problem can be triggered by improper tire pressure, particularly punctured tires can trigger this problem. All tires of your vehicle must be properly aired according to the manufacturer's recommended PSI.

Additionally, front-end alignment is crucial. If there is any wear on your tires, it can make your vehicle pull to a side while driving or taking a turn. The uneven tires will lead to misalignment of the wheels of your vehicle. This could also be a reason why your steering wheel is hard to turn while making turns on the road.

• Pump Malfunction

The pump also has a vital role in creating the right amount of pressure in the power steering system. If this pump gets damaged or stops working for any reason, it will be difficult to turn your steering wheel.

An impaired pump won't stand the wheel completely. You can move your steering wheel, but it takes a lot of effort. This could be really dangerous when you want to take a sharp turn on the road.

Final Words

From this post, you got the answer to your question -why is my steering wheel hard to turn? Regular maintenance and servicing are the best ways to keep your vehicle free from the stiffness of your steering wheel. Also, you must check the fluid level of your steering system at regular intervals. Make sure your power steering system is diagnosed well every time you send your car to servicing.