If you notice that your Vauxhall is behaving abnormally while you are at the wheel then the problem could well be the steering rack and here are five common faults that can affect it.

Internal Seal Leaks

Fluid leaking from a rack can be described by your mechanic as leaking from the rack body itself as opposed to a hose or pump. You may see oily patches on the ground in front of your car or notice that your fluid reservoir is dropping on a regular basis.

Rack-End Wear

The steering on your Vauxhall feels vague or wanders when driving at speed. Most likely cause is worn rack ends. These cause play in the steering and even small inputs are not transferred completely to the wheels. As Vauxhall Steering Racks are used on many high mileage cars, this type of wear can be expected.

Gaiter Failure

Both the inner and outer rubber gaiters can fail. This can allow water and detritus to enter the Rack’s inner components and lead to rapid deterioration. In some cases you may even hear a slight grinding sound when turning full lock. If you are looking for Vauxhall Steering Racks, see https://westernpowersteering.co.uk/vehicles/vauxhall/.

Rack Bush Deterioration

The Rubber Bushes that the rack rests on are designed to dampen road vibration. The bush deteriorates slowly but will make a clunking noise over pot holes and speed bumps. Please click here for Vauxhall steering rack options by model.

Rack Corrosion

The IMI say that a steering system inspection can reveal problems with the steering before they cause an accident and also highlight potential problems before they cause expensive repairs. Note though that road salt can corrode the rack body in the winter months to make the steering much heavier than normal.

This allows your mechanic to diagnose a problem and complete any repair work to get you back on the road as quickly as possible.