When you’re driving down the street, you know what the steering wheel should feel like. So when it starts feeling loose, it’s time to take notice. But what does that mean, and more importantly, what do you need to do about it?
Let’s talk about some of the most common problems that can give you a “loose” feeling on the steering wheel and how to diagnose them correctly so you DON’T replace stuff you don’t need to.
Why Does My Steering Wheel Feel Loose?
When a steering wheel feels “loose,” it has more play before the wheels actually start to turn. A loose steering wheel feels a little “wiggly,” or turns more freely (or farther) before the wheels respond.
Steering that’s a little “loose” can often feel vague, less responsive, and limit your control. Also, a steering wheel that lacks that solid, rigid feeling can be indicative of a wider issue with the steering system.
What Makes a Steering Wheel Loose?
Steering wheels can feel or be a little loose for many reasons, and we’ve highlighted five for you here. With this knowledge… Once you know what might be causing the steering wheel to “feel” loose, you’ll be ready to start troubleshooting, too!
#1. Loose Steering Nut.
If your steering wheel doesn’t just feel loose but is indeed loose, it’s most likely a problem with the steering nut. The steering nut is found behind/underneath the airbag, which serves to physically hold your steering wheel onto the steering column.
Although it’s not terribly common for the steering nut to come loose, it can of course, occur. The good news is that if this is the case, it’s fairly easy to diagnose and repair!
#2. Worn Tie Rods.
Tie rods tie your vehicle’s rack and pinion to the hub, and is a big part of how the wheel is turned. Over time, the ball joints of the tie rods can start to wear down; this in turn, can introduce extra play into your steering system.
You’ll feel this in the steering wheel; this will cause steering issues and make other parts of your vehicle wear down.
If you have tie rod issues, you may also notice your steering wheel shakes at high speeds, as well as a noisy steering wheel when turning.
#3. Worn Ball Joints.
Across a typical vehicle’s steering system are numerous ball joints. The ball joints act as a buffer, allowing for the connection to move without metal-on-metal contact occurring. This is an excellent component, but over the years of use, ball joints start to wear down.
A common ball joint will last between 70,000 and 150,000 miles, after which you will need to replace it or risk a loose-feeling steering wheel and have other steering components start to be damaged.
#4. Worn or Damaged Rack and Pinion.
The rack and pinion is a gear that rotates along with the actual steering shaft, yet connects to a rack that itself moves from side to side along with your steering wheel is turned. The rack typically connects directly to the tie rod ends.
A normal rack and pinion will last a driver between 100,000 and 150,000 miles. However, it is not leak-proof and can become damaged.
#5. Worn or Broken Pitman Arm.
The pitman arm connects the shaft to your vehicle’s steering gear and is, in fact, physically connected to the gear.
It’s a very strong part, so a normal driver is likely to see their pitman arm last throughout the lifetime of the vehicle. But if one does start to wear down, it can make everything feel a bit loose and affect your steering.
Inspecting and Diagnosing the Issue
Now that you know a little more about what could be causing your vehicle’s loose steering wheel, it’s time to start troubleshooting to determine what exactly is going on. The first thing you’re going to want to rule out is whether there is even a problem in the first place.
A little play in the steering wheel doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem. But if the play’s more than an inch, it’s worth looking into.
Assuming you’re not just driving the vehicle for the first time, you have a good idea of how the steering wheel should feel, and if it appears to be different, it’s better to be safe and have somebody check it out for you.
How To Fix a Loose Steering Wheel
Your first step is to rule out a steering wheel that is physically loose. If the steering column doesn’t move when the steering wheel is turned, or if the wheel itself seems to wobble, it’s almost guaranteed to be a loose steering nut. Once you eliminate that, it’s probably a steering component.
The symptoms of a bad rack and pinion, ball joints, and tie rod ends all present themselves differently, and the best course of action is to independently troubleshoot them all.
Be it a leaking rack and pinion, a bad tie rod end, or faulty ball joints, we have a handy guide showing how each of these components presents itself when it’s not working correctly.
Your last resort would be a bad pitman arm, so don’t sweat this unless all the other components check out.
Is It Safe to Drive With a Loose Steering Wheel
It is NOT safe to drive with a loose steering wheel. If your steering wheel is physically loose or if there’s too much play in the steering and you can feel it in the steering wheel, it’s just not safe to drive your vehicle.
When this occurs, your vehicle won’t respond as it should while you’re attempting to turn, and this can easily lead to an accident. But wait, not only can it cause an accident, but looseness in the steering can also start to do damage to other components.
Leave it unchecked, and a relatively minor repair could wind up damaging other components, leading to a much more costly repair bill.