The steering system

The following difficulties could develop with the steering system:

a) the tires are worn

b) the wheels are out of balance

c) the wheel bearings have gone

d) the front end has gone out of alignment

e) something is wrong with the steering column

f) the joints connecting the steering mechanisms are worn

g) the steering box mechanism is faulty

h) the shocks are bad

i) the car frame is cracked

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Tires

Check the tires regularly. In a front wheel drive car the front tires tend to wear out faster than the back. In a rear wheel drive car the back wheels will wear out first. Rotate the tires for even wear by exchanging the front tires with the back tires. Never rotate radial tires side to side. Make sure that the tires that have gotten more wear are still safe to drive. If the tires are too worn replace them.

If the car veers from side to side, then the tires are worn, the wheels are out of balance, or the front end is out of alignment. If the car shakes when driving especially at high speeds then it is the tires, or bad shocks.

Alignment

Front end alignment can be thrown off by hitting the curb or a pothole. There could be other factors causing the alignment to go out and you would need to find and fix that and then get a proper alignment. When the alignment has gone out it is important that you discover WHY before simply getting an alignment done.

If the steering joints are worn, the wheel bearings are bad, the frame is cracked, or a steering bar is cracked then this could affect the alignment. Only getting these items fixed and then a front end alignment will fix it, not an alignment alone.

If correcting tires, balance, and alignment doesn't handle a steering problem then you need to check into each of the other possibilities and fix them as a priority. It is dangerous to drive with a bad steering column, worn joints, if the rack and pinion mechanism is faulty, or the car frame is cracked. Shocks, if too "shot", can also be dangerous.

Braking system

Bad brakes will also affect the steering when braking. Brake pads wear down slowly They are padding against the friction that occurs when the brakes grab the brake disc or drum while the car is moving. The friction burns off some of the pad. If the brake pad wears down too much then metal hits metal. When this occurs, with the friction and heat generated in applying the brakes, the brake rotors, the shoes, the discs, the calipers, and the seals are liable to melt and warp and any or all of these will need to be replaced.

Brake rotor

If when you are braking at a certain speed the steering wheel begins to shake violently your brake rotor has warped. People who live on hills have their foot constantly on the brakes when driving down the hill especially in a car with automatic transmission. The brakes go red hot and start to warp, bend, and melt. The brake rotor, because it is now warped, will grab the axle at some points and not at others as it turns. Hence the shuddering effect.

Brake fluid

You need to check the brake fluid level regularly. As a word of caution when replacing the brake fluid in the master cylinder, don't let the fluid touch any part of your car paint. It is a chemical and will burn the paint off. If you get some on the paint by accident wash it down with water immediately.

Get your brakes checked regularly (every time you get an oil change), before there is any problem and you have added expense. If you hear any noise coming from your brakes, if you experience any shudder when applying the brakes or if you feel the brakes getting less powerful in any way then get them checked immediately for your safety, that of your passengers and the safety of your fellow drivers. When you get the brakes changed make sure the brake rotors are re-surfaced (this is called ''turning the rotors").

Suspension system

The suspension system consists of shocks and springs and both of these can wear out, as well as the mountings that hold the shocks in place, especially in older cars.

The oil or gas in the shock valve can leak and the shocks will lose their ability to absorb and will need to be replaced. You can test the shocks to see if they are working by pushing down on one of the front corners of your car. The car should move quickly downwards and then slowly back up. If it bounces a lot when you do this then you have poor shocks. Of course you will feel it also in the quality of the ride that you get. The metal springs themselves can also break and require replacement.

The shock absorbers are also very important in protecting the mechanical parts of the car from shock. In terms of safety it is dangerous to have poor shocks. If the shocks are gone you will have reduced control over the steering of the car especially at high speeds.