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December 20, 2008 03:43 PM

How safe is it to drive a car with the power steering out?

The power steering went out on my car a couple of weeks ago. It's steerable, but it's hard. Looks like a seal in the rack and pinion went.

I won't be able to get this fixed until after Christmas. Is the steering likely to seize up all together?
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johnsonaar... johnsonaar...
 
 December 20, 2008 04:40 PM
I have a very personal answer to this question. No, power steering is not required, its not that hard to do without, but I wouldn't reccommend it.

When I was 16 I had a Ford Tempo that I bought for $300 and the power steering did not work at all. Late one night I was driving around a corner (probably a bit too fast) and my back end started to slide, I overcorrected and the wheel locked hard over to the right, I remember yanking on the steering wheel as hard as I could just before I blacked out. I bounced off of several pine trees and ended up backwards into one. The speakers I had put in my trunk were then in my back seat, and my back seat in the passenger seat. I broke my knee and had a concussion.

It may have been my inexperience, but I wouldn't drive a car without power steering ever again.

Note: not my car, but it looked oddly similar to this:

Asker's Rating:
• Thanks. I had the feeling something like this could happen. So we'll have to try to drive as infrequently as possible until it's fixed.


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johnnyzm3 johnnyzm3
 
December 20, 2008 04:08 PM
You can drive without it but it wll be very hard and maybe dangerous if you are not always aware you have to steer harder such as when you enter a turn fast. You probably just need some power steering fluid.

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hartwell hartwell
 
December 20, 2008 04:36 PM
on top of the safety issue, the eventual repair is likely to cost more if you continue to drive it.

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ozark ozark
 
December 20, 2008 06:32 PM
I had the same problem about 20 years ago. I drove it for about six months. No fun but doable. Potentially dangerous, not recomended.

Be Carefull!
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The real world


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sammyc53 sammyc53
 
January 06, 2009 04:43 AM
I have been driving without for 3 years on my Camry. Works fine without power steering. parallel parking is just a good shoulder workout. Also have to use both hands on tight turns - but you should anyway for safety.

I mainly drive on highways. Most of the time I never notice it's out.

It takes 6 hours of labor to replace, so I saved a couple hundred bucks. Saving it for my next car...

You could by the part your self on ebay, and have the shop install it for you to save a little $$$. They just won't warranty the work/parts.

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