Assessment Of The Steering Of A Vehicle Involved In An Accident

The steering gear may have to be replaced in the following situations: 

1. Yellow or red warning light (in the instrument cluster) indicating a problem with the steering.
2. Visible or perceptible damage to the steering gear.
3. Fire damage (e.g. steering bellows burnt).
4. Unacceptable rise in torque and the steering gear jams or catches when turned fully from stop to stop. Check the steering with the engine running and stopped - the front wheels must be free when turning (front axle raised).
5. Permanent deformation, damage or fractures on:

• Rims
• Tie rods
• Steering arms
• Steering-gear mountings
• Steering shaft
• Bellows - associated with the ingress of water
• Spring struts
• Wheel bearing housing trailing arm
• Front-axle cross member
• Points on the body where wheel suspension parts are bolted on

  If the listed criteria are insufficient for a decision, we recommend that the steering gear be replaced with a new or exchange unit.