To always enjoy worry-free steering, make sure your steering system is functioning correctly, your suspension is in satisfying condition, tyres are properly inflated and the power steering fluid is topped up.

For your car to turn and drive around a corner, each wheel follows a different circle and the wheels are moving at slightly different angles - inside wheels must move slower and turn tighter than the faster moving wheels on outside. Steering linkage system allows for the necessary adjustments and makes steering possible.

• Hard to steer? Steering linkage may need lubrication or repair, or power steering unit may have a problem.
• Steering feels loose? Steering linkage parts may be worn.
• Vehicle pulling to one side? Worn linkage or steering parts, inadequate tire inflation, misaligned wheels or brake drag.
• Steering wheel jerks? Loose steering belt, low power steering fluid or a steering pump problem.
• Vibrating steering wheel? Tires need balancing or steering parts may be worn.

Your car's steering system consists of series of linkages and gears that allow the driver to manipulate the wheels. There are two types of steering systems - Parallelogram Linkage Steering System (used in older cars and, because of the weight and number of parts, only on modern large vehicles and trucks) and Rack and Pinion System (installed in most small to intermediate size cars and minivans).

Most vehicles utilize also a Power Assisted Steering, which consists of a fluid reservoir and hydraulic pump driven by the engine to produce pressure reducing the effort needed to turn the wheels away from the straight ahead position.

The reduced weight and fewer parts of the Rack and Pinion System allows vehicles to meet standards of fuel economy and emission. The Rack is the flat gear machined at one end of the center portion of the center rod. The Pinion is a gear machined at the end of the steering shaft that, when rotated, causes the rack to move back and forth in the Rack Housing.