Car Steering inspection, repair & replacement made easy

Steering is of course critical to a vehicle's use so any issues that arise with it are not only dangerous, they could be life threatening. ClickMechanic’s steering fault diagnostic is specially geared towards finding the causes of knocking, stiffness and general faults associated with the steering mechanism.

This very much depends on the characteristics of the fault and the components the vehicle has been built with.

The technician will go through the joints and mountings of the components, the tie rod components, the rack and the column etc.

With electronic power steering (EPS), the mechanic may also access the electronic control unit that manages it as well.

Unless you are a qualified mechanic with the required skills, training and equipment to do the job, we strongly recommend work on the car steering is only carried out by a professional mechanic. ClickMechanic can help get you a vetted and local mechanic to carry out the work. Just enter your postcode and your car's registration number at the top of this page and select the work needed to get an instant fixed price up front.

The time it will take to check & fix a problem with the car steering will take will depend on the type of job needed and a number of factors, like your vehicle's make and model, year, as well as other factors. Select your car at the top of this page for information on job time and cost for your vehicle through ClickMechanic.

If you experience any untoward characteristics in your steering, or if you suspect there is any issue with the steering or there are concerns about its condition, book a diagnostic inspection immediately and do not drive the vehicle. The steering is obviously critical to a vehicle's use so any issues that arise with it are not only dangerous, they could be life threatening.

If the steering rack is faulty it is generally not repaired but replaced. The mechanic will replace the old unity with a new one.

If the power steering starts to fail, the steering wheel will be heavier to turn than normal, if it fails completely you may find it very hard to turn the wheel. Hence, it is not advisable to drive with faulty power steering. If you suspect an issue with the power steering or that it has stopped working it's very important to book an inspection with a mechanic with immediate effect to get it checked.

Cost for a steering rack replacement is on average £485, with pricing ranging from around £320 to £750. Ultimately, cost depends on your location, car and what parts your car's manufacturer recommends using for the replacement.

If the steering rack is compromised due to wear it can be dangerous to drive as you may lose the ability to steer as normal and may lose control over the vehicle. Obviously this is safety hazard, it is recommended to book a diagnostic inspection with a mechanic and to not drive the vehicle if you suspect any issue with the steering.

Common symptoms that will show there is a steering issue on a car can be as follows:

• Difficulty in turning the steering wheel
• Vibrations from the steering wheel
• Grinding noise when turning the steering wheel
• Excessive play or looseness in the steering wheel
• Power steering fluid leak
• Discoloured or bad power steering fluid
• Vehicle pulls to one side

Yes, a steering problem can lead an MOT failure. There is a large number of points related to steering on which your car can fail. For example a major issue may be recorded if parts are defective, excessively worn or if 'excessive roughness in operation of steering' is identified, or indeed if the steering rack has a leak.