Steering: Testing and Inspection

Four factors affect operation of the steering system:
- fluid level and condition
- drive belt tension
- pump pressure
- steering gear adjustment.
These should always be checked before any major service operations are performed. Conditions such as, hard or loose steering, road shock or vibrations are not always due to steering gear or pump, but are often related instead to such factors as low tire pressure and front end alignment. These factors should be checked and corrected before performing any adjustment of the steering gear.
If fluid level is low, add power steering fluid to proper level on dipstick and replace filler cap.