Play in the steering wheel
Free play or play in the steering wheel is when the wheels don't respond immediately to steering wheel movements. This is a common fault that directly affects driving safety and vehicle handling.
Likely causes — most common first
Wear of the tie rod ends
The tie rod ends have joints that break down over time due to loads and poor roads. This creates play so steering movement isn't transmitted to the wheels straight away.
Wear of the tie rods
The internal joints of the tie rods wear out just like the tie rod ends, creating free play in the system. This is often accompanied by knocking when driving over bumps.
Play in the steering rack
The gear teeth or thrust washers inside the steering rack (the mechanism that converts steering wheel movement into wheel movement) wear out. This causes a noticeable delay and a dull knock.
Wear of the steering column universal joint
There are small joints (universal joints) in the steering column that transmit force from the wheel to the rack. When the crosses wear out, they develop their own free play.
Play in the steering box (on older cars)
Some older cars have a steering box instead of a rack, where clearances between the gears increase over time. This is fixed by adjustment or replacing parts.
