Steering
Steering Column
The steering column carries the wheel to the rack and houses the column lock and controls.
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What it does
- Transfers steering input to the rack
- Houses the key lock and stalks
- Collapsible for crash safety
When it fails
- Steering wheel feels loose or moves up/down
- Clicking when turning the wheel
- Column lock fails
- Steering angle sensor faults
How to diagnose
- Wiggle the wheel for play
- Check the column bearings
- Inspect the U-joint at the rack
- Read steering angle codes
Maintenance
- Never force a jammed column lock
- Fix U-joint play before it wears the rack
Use the diagnosis order. When a part fails, confirm each hypothesis with measurements before replacing anything — codes and symptoms overlap.
Related part
Power Steering Rack
The steering rack converts steering wheel rotation into the left-right movement that turns the wheels.