If your address is loose when driving, you need to fix it immediately
A loose steering wheel can be dangerous not only for the driver and passengers, but also for everyone else on the road.
Quickly learn how to fix a loose steering wheel before getting your car back on the road.
You need to understand that the steering wheel of your vehicle controls the movement and direction of your car and it is definitely considered one of the most crucial parts. The wheel and column are a component of a complex steering system that receives guidance directly from the driver. By controlling the steering column, the driver controls the entire vehicle and all of its components. That is why it is crucial that this entire system is responsive to the driver to ensure a safe, smooth and worry-free ride.
Even though there are 2 types of steering wheels, most vehicles have tiltable steering columns and that is where we will focus our quick repair instructions.
To begin with, you should park your vehicle on a flat surface away from traffic. Make sure to pull the parking brake and remove the keys. Open the hood and use a pair of pliers to disconnect the battery cables.
Remove the piece that covers the center of the wheel with a screwdriver or other sharp flat-tipped tool. Do this carefully so as not to damage or break the centerpiece. You should be able to see the center bolt and will need to loosen it with a wrench in order to fully remove it.
Attach a flywheel puller to the wheel itself making sure to pay attention to the instructions in the manual for your specific vehicle and also to the model of the puller tool. You should now be able to remove the entire wheel and lock plate.
Find the retaining ring after the wheel has been removed, and then take a pair of normal pliers to remove it.
Unscrew the bolts that hold the turn signal assembly on the wheel. The total number of screws can vary with each make and model of vehicle, which can vary between 4 and 6 screws. Place the screws in a safe area away from where you are working so you don’t lose them.
Find the column bracket that connects the column to the dash of your car. Take a screwdriver and unscrew the 2 large bolts at the bottom of the bracket. You don’t have to remove it completely, just enough to see and remove the wires. After that, insert the keys into the ignition hole and turn it to the ignition position.
Loosen the lock cylinder by taking out the 2 screws, and then remove the whole cylinder from the car. Next, unscrew the 3 large torque bolts from the steering column.
Remove the housing, then the bearing parts, and finally press a retainer for the spring with a screwdriver tool. Take a moment to turn the retainer clockwise about a quarter turn.
Remove the spring assembly from the bottom of the steering shaft by taking a pair of pliers and removing the 2 pivot pins. You should be able to see the pivots within the actual tilt column.
Pull the arm of the tilt column to adjust the column and then move it up.
The next step would be to tilt the spine up and to the right again. You will have to take the case out again, then take a metal spring clip and twist it clockwise until you can’t turn it any further.
Once complete, follow all of the above steps back to return all components to their original positions.
These are the basic steps you need to take when the steering is loose. Remember that a loose steering wheel can affect the safety of your trip, so you need to fix that loose steering wheel as soon as possible.