answered question
0
Votes
Votes
4
Answers
Answers
M$0.00
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?
I won't be able to get this fixed until after Christmas. Is the steering likely to seize up all together?
|
Report
answers (4)
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:
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.
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.
on top of the safety issue, the eventual repair is likely to cost more if you continue to drive it.
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!
Be Carefull!
source(s):
The real world
The real world
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 $$$. They just won't warranty the work/parts.
I mainly drive on highways. Most of the time I never notice it's out.
It takes 6 hours of labor to replace, so I saved a couple hundred bucks. Saving it for my next car...
You could by the part your self on ebay, and have the shop install it for you to save a little $$$. They just won't warranty the work/parts.
Related questions
140 characters left
ask any question
