Knowing how to diagnose steering problems is not as difficult to learn as you may think. In most cases, lack of proper system maintenance is at the root cause of these issues. Suddenly, your car begins to wander from side to side on a straight road, the steering wheel becomes too hard to turn or the steering system begins to make loud noises at every turn of the steering wheel. Once you know the typical steering problems symptoms, however, you are on your way to troubleshoot and repair the system. Your car wanders from side to side Excessive play on the steering wheel is perhaps the most common issue you will encounter with your vehicle’s steering system. Steering wheel play is usually caused by a worn out ball socket, a failed idler arm or a gradually increasing clearance inside the steering box. With the help of the vehicle service manual for your particular car make and model, you may be able to inspect the steering system. Open the hood and have someone move the steering wheel back and forth while you check the steering column all the way down to the tie rods and ball joints. In most cases, you shouldn’t be able to rotate the steering wheel more than 1-1/2 inches (33mm) without causing movement on system components. Your steering wheel is hard to turn A common reason for hard steering is system neglect. Low fluid level in the steering pump will make it difficult for you to turn the steering wheel. Check the level of the steering fluid in the reservoir and add the recommended oil for your particular vehicle, if necessary, following the instructions in your service manual. Recheck the steering wheel. However, if you keep adding oil to the pump on a regular basis, you might have a leak in the system. Checking or troubleshooting the pump, reservoir, hoses, lines and seals for possible cracks and loose connections may help you find the leak source. Another frequent cause for hard steering is a loose steering belt. Check the belt and adjust or replace it as necessary. If you are driving a car with high mileage, you might be dealing with worn out system components. Check the steering box and gear in the rack and pinion, ball sockets and suspension system parts for wear. Your car makes loud noises every time you turn the steering wheel There are several reasons why your car makes noises when you turn the steering wheel. However, a slipping or worn out steering pump belt is one of the most common reasons. Check, adjust or replace the belt, as necessary. Then check the system oil level. Lack of oil can also cause the system to produce a high pitch noise during operation. Also, check for dry bearings, ball sockets and loose components. It’s a good idea to diagnose steering problems as soon as they appear. Some of them can easily turn into a real safety issue once you begin to lose control of your car on the road. Although you might not be able to troubleshoot and fix every single problem you might come across with your car’s steering system, there are some common ones you may be able to diagnose at home, which will help you fix them much sooner and save on car repairs. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society

Adding a lift kit to your truck or SUV is a great way to add function and style. Choosing the proper kit and components to lift your vehicle will depend on the purpose for the lift. Do you want to lift your vehicle just for looks or do you need a more functional system for serious off-road use? There is a variety of options available on the market to lift your vehicle. Here is a review of those options. The Body Lift: This is a moderately priced option for lifting your vehicle. Using a body lift kit is useful if you simply want to fit slightly larger tires under the body. This modification does nothing to improve the performance of your vehicle as the suspension system remains stock, so is primarily used to add style. However, the body kit may be combined with other lift kits to extend the lift even further, which is often used with extreme lifts. On their own, body kits can add about 1-inch to 3-inches. The cost of a body lift kit may range from about $100 to $500, depending on the vehicle and how much is included with the kit. Shackles: For small lift adjustments, Shackles are the most inexpensive option you can choose. Shackles are placed at one end of each leaf spring and provide a lift from -inch to 2 and -inches. This is another option that may be used if you just want to add a slightly larger tire size to your vehicle and you have leaf spring suspension. There is little, if any, performance gain with this option. Shackles range from about $45 to $150. Leaf Springs: A very common way to lift your vehicle is through the use of lifted leaf springs, which will provide an increase of 2-inches to 6-inches. A wide range of options are made available; from stiff springs to softer springs. The stiffest springs are normally used for off-road racing vehicles to keep the bottom of the vehicle off the ground. For a truck that will see highway miles, you’ll want a spring with moderate stiffness. The price you pay for springs corresponds directly with the quality of the spring. The less you pay, the poorer the ride and quality. The pricing for lifted leaf springs ranges from about $150 to $600.Add-a- Leaf: The concept of add-a-leaf is the same as the above lifted spring option. However, the gain in height is only 1-inch to 3-inches. Also, you are adding an additional component to your suspension, while a lifted spring accomplishes the task with one component. This is another option that is best suited to lifting a vehicle simply to fit larger tires. This is not the best choice if you’re planning moderate or professional off-road use. Add-a-Leaf kits range from about $45 to $130. Spring Over Axle: Leaf springs are normally mounted to the bottom side of the front and rear axles. A spring over axle kit allows you to mount the springs on the top side of the axle. This adjustment in the mounting of the spring provides a lift on its own, not including additional height you may have gained with a lifted spring. On average, these kits provide a lift of 6-inches. The spring over axle kits run about $500 to $600.More comprehensive kits are available on the market that combines some of the components listed. These larger kits may run up to $2,000 or more.When adding a lift kit to your vehicle, keep in mind that additional adjustments may be needed. You may need to obtain longer brake lines and emergency brake cables, bumper adjustment kits may be needed, and longer shock absorbers. Also keep in mind that with the upgrade to larger tires, you may need to change your gear ratio so that you don’t damage your clutch or transmission. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil