STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT STEERING (Loose Steering)
May 26, 2025
Perhaps you've heard someone use the term "loose steering." And it's pretty much what it sounds like. You turn the steering wheel and the vehicle's wheels don't seem to go exactly where you thought you were pointing them. You have to constantly make steering adjustments.
Loose steering is sloppy steering, and it can be a safety hazard. You need to be able to control your vehicle with pretty much the same precision as the way it was when it came off the assembly line.
If the steering in your vehicle is starting to feel loose and sloppy, there may be some significant suspension issues that need examining by a trained technician.
How do you know if your vehicle needs to be looked at? Try turning the steering wheel and see how much play is in it. One rule of thumb: if you can turn it the distance of a quarter and a dime placed side by side without seeing the outside wheels move, it's time to have it inspected by one of our technicians.
Our ServicePro Quick Lube technician will examine those components that are supposed to work together to make sure your steering is tight and precise. They are linked together by things called (of course) linkages.
When these linkage components were new, they all fit together tightly and moved together to make sure your wheels responded quickly and precisely to your movements of the steering wheel.
But hit a few potholes, travel over a couple of rough railroad tracks and those metal components can be damaged or bent. Given enough time, they will simply wear out. Our trained ServicePro Quick Lube technician can inspect all of those parts and determine what needs to be repaired and/or replaced.
Keep your steering tight. Loose or sloppy steering can be dangerous. Thank goodness it usually warns you in plenty of time before it fails completely. Just straight talk… about steering.
ServicePro Quick Lube
3165 I 75 Business Spur
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783
9066353018
More articles from Service Pro Quick Lube
Does Your Car Have A Recall Item?
May 3, 2026
Recalls are pretty serious for Sault Sainte Marie residents and don't happen all that often. But sometimes cars have less serious problems that Sault Sainte Marie residents still might want to know about. For these less serious cases, the vehicle manufacturer issues what is known as a Technical S... More
Beware of Cheap Tires in Sault Sainte Marie
April 26, 2026
Do you like to shop for shoes in Sault Sainte Marie?When buying a running shoe, is quality important?Does durability matter as long as the shoes look fabulous?Would you rather have one pair of long lasting shoes or two pairs of lower quality shoes at the same price?Is the warranty important whe... More
Snake in the Engine (Serpentine Belt)
April 19, 2026
There's a belt that snakes through your engine. It's even named for a snake, the serpentine belt. It'll bite you when it breaks, possibly leaving you stranded. So, it's good to know a little about this snake-like belt. In early engines, there were lots of belts. They were used to convert the ... More