Front wheels doesnt straighten up after turning in speed

[Erlend93 0]

Hello everyone, i have a problem with my Smart 450. I have jacked the car so both of the front wheels are over the ground, i have tried to disconnect the UJ to see if this was stuck, it wasnt. And i also disconnected the stearing rods from both of the wheels just to move the wheels, but they moved freely.  If i move the stearing wheel from the inside of the car it seems normal, it isnt hard to turn. But if i try to more the front wheels with my hands if very heavy and i can barely make them turn. Is there any fix to this? is the steering rack broken?
 

[Willys 717]

Welcome to the site, I don't have electronic steering in any of my cars 450's. So can't offer an experienced suggestion, just that oil is leaking from something unless you spilled it..? The question if leaking is why and where from?  Then ask yourself where the power to operate the steering comes from? Are the grounds good for it? Seeing as this car suffers from bad grounds constantly ...?    With zero experience I would say the power assist isn't working and somehow stopping the system from working correctly, simply because the wheels etc turn when unhooked.....????

Again welcome to the site....

[LooseLugNuts 547]

you disconnect steering and wheels turn easy

you connect it all and it works normal from inside

you find it hard to move wheels by hand when everything is connected

 

sounds normal to me 

 

bad steering rack will usually be stiff and not return to center when driving 

[Erlend93 0]

Thank you Wilys for the welcome :), yes the oil spillage is just me who sprayed some lubricant, it was dry before i did it.

LooseLugNuts, yes when i said i disconnected the steering i ment to the wheels, so they both turn very easy when i try to move them by hand seperatly. 

"you find it hard to move wheels by hand when everything is connected" Yes, i need to use all my power when both front wheels are lifted above ground, even if i disconnect the rod going to the steering wheel.

So when you say bad steering rack, is there any way to fix the old do you think? I noticed this cap under it also, could there be some grease inside perhaps?

 

[Willys 717]

Maybe it needs fluid or grease, but I would bet it has some sort of hydraulic fluid in it somewhere.  That looks to me like  a drain plug.

As for repairing it, anything can be repaired it's how much will you spend to get it fixed over buying a new one?  But I'd be taking everything apart before spending if I could.   Just to see if it is repairable....

 

[LooseLugNuts 547]

can of worms opening up a rack

 

especially an electric power assist one...i doubt any parts are available

[MikeT 721]

If the only problem is that you can't easily move the road wheels through the steering arc when the car is jacked up then there is no problem.  The electric assist motor likely has gears that act like those in a Torsen diff and make it very stiff.  In the old days racks were serviceable and the dampers, springs could be changed (I just did this on my 404C) and there were greasing points.

 

The cause of most actual stiffness in the 450 steering is the steering shaft u-joint.

[LooseLugNuts 547]

yeah the steering shaft should be checked..i change many on fords (mostly five hundreds and f150s)...people suspect the steering rack but its common for the u-joints in the shaft to seize

 

hopefully its just that because the rack is probably expensive

[TheHandyHobbit 49]

20 hours ago, LooseLugNuts said:

yeah the steering shaft should be checked..i change many on fords (mostly five hundreds and f150s)...people suspect the steering rack but its common for the u-joints in the shaft to seize

 

hopefully its just that because the rack is probably expensive

 

When this happened on my 450, it was the U-Joint. Some spray lube and some minor heat from a hair dryer (not a heat gun) helped the lube soak in. Steering was slick as butter after that thanks to Uncle Glenn

 

[LooseLugNuts 547]

i like to just put new when it comes to steering and brakes...

 

ill admit i lubed up my own steering shaft on an equinox once ...it worked for a while

 

 

ill probably learn a bit soon about these epas electric steering ...my neighbour has a ford he wants me to check out because the rack is near $2000 to buy 

[Erlend93 0]

So it seems like there are some issues with the electric stearing sensor (counter) or the computer. When i disconnected the motor and turn the steering wheel the motor doesnt follow. There is a counter inside the top of the steering rack which is suppose to give signal to the motor to follow the same direction. But the steering rack it self is also very stiff. I tried again after lubing it and mounting itback, but the front wheels doesnt move at all back to center if i put the seering on either side, its just stuck.

So i guess i`ll get a new steeing rack then.

 

Does anyone know if one without power steering will fit on my car, is it the same steering column? A new with electrical steering costs more than what i paid for the car, and the car is so light anyways it should be fine to get one without any electrical assistance

[smarty42 0]

God, I feel for you mate.

it’s crazy how many on here know nothing and spurt crap why they feel the need to comment if they don’t know how to fix something when it’s a straightforward question.

I have the same problem on my fourtwo with power steering that’s how I ended up on this page my power steering works as it should at low speed but the moment it turns off approx. 15mph it won’t return to centre unless you pull the steering wheel I have done just the same as you disconnected the steering rack ends there fine both wheels swivel fine so nothing there steering Colum uj (there’s two ) on the Colum they  seems fine so i think it has to be in the rack itself so i have bought a second hand one and about to fit it .

I will update when done.

 

[smarty42 0]

[Mjolinor 75]

I don't think that digging old threads up from years ago just to have a dig at members is really the way to get on.

 

 

[LooseLugNuts 547]

schematics and part numbers are always welcome...

 

i wish we could get easy access to part numbers for every part on these cars

[Willys 717]

42 minutes ago, Mjolinor said:

I don't think that digging old threads up from years ago just to have a dig at members is really the way to get on.

 

 

Glad someone else see's it this way...lol.

Hmmmm....?

[1983JZR3W 32]

The OP only made 3 posts and has not been active since 9/5/2020.  I doubt he even saw the negative post.

[Mjolinor 75]

3 hours ago, LooseLugNuts said:

schematics and part numbers are always welcome...

 

i wish we could get easy access to part numbers for every part on these cars

 

Good for 451 but not the 450:

https://www.mbonlineparts.com/v-2008-smart-fortwo--pure--1-0l-l3-gas