General Information

Various kinds of damage can occur to the steering gear in the event of accidents or driving conditions similar to accidents.

• If the steering gear shows no external signs of damage, it can sometimes be difficult and costly to detect damage.
• Nevertheless, this damage represents an unacceptable risk for the vehicle, since it could lead to failure of the steering system.

Since a comprehensive check on all individual parts of the steering gear is not usually feasible due to the relatively high cost or is not possible using ordinary workshop resources, the condition of other components that are easier to check must therefore be taken into account.

To decide whether the steering gear of a vehicle involved in an accident must be replaced or may continue to be used, the following guidelines are helpful.

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 breaks on:
   • Rims
   • Tie rods
   • Steering arms
   • Steering-gear mountings
   • Steering shaft
   • Bellows as a result of water leaking in
   • Spring struts
   • Wheel bearing housing
   • Trailing arm
   • Front-axle cross member
   • Screw-on points for wheel suspension parts on the body

Control dimension for tie-rod ball:  If control dimension -X-  is < 188 mm (measured up to the roll edge on the tie-rod ball end), the complete steering gear with tie rod and tie-rod ball must be replaced.

Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Control dimension for tie-rod ball

If the listed criteria are insufficient for making a decision, we recommend that the steering gear be replaced.

Exceptional regulation/order handling 

If a workshop's intended exchange of steering gear is refused by a customer or insurer for reasons of costs, an expert or - if this is impossible abroad, the importer - should be called in at the cost of the refusing party. If the decision contradicts the guideline, we recommend that a memorandum be drawn up on the point and that it be countersigned by the expert.