Knock on the steering rack ford mondeo 3 DIY repair

A small report on how I tightened the steering rack.
my car drove 176 pumpkins, there were interference in the suspension six months ago - a lot was replaced (almost everything)), but this did not save you from knocking in the front when driving through irregularities, pits and other road defects. it became clear that this was knocking the rail, and when the steering wheel was moved from side to side, a noticeable characteristic knock was also heard. in general, I decided to repeat the procedure that I had already done on the previous machine - ff2.
at first I tried to crawl up to the coveted place from the side - through the arch of the left front wheel, but it turned out that I had only removed the wheel in vain - there is no way even to see the place where this green nut is located. it became clear that the procedure without a pit (lift) is not feasible.
So here are the tightening tools - a 17 ratchet wrench and a sturdy knife. Ratchet wrench can be bought at auto parts-auchan-lerouamerlen. price from 350 rubles.
You also need lighting - a flashlight or a carrier.

now you can get under the car. you need to look approximately from the place that is under the driver's seat. look forward, between the subframe and the bottom. here is the place you are looking for, already cleared of dirt -

as you can see in the photo - you need to twist the green hexagon, around which the red fixing ring. You do not need to remove anything from the car, unscrew the stretcher or something else - too. you can crawl everywhere, you do not have to be gutta-perky.

there is no need for it, you do not need to attach it back - in the trash.

then take the ratchet wrench and twist it clockwise. here the main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise there will be a very big byaka. it is better to twist it gently, by a quarter of a turn. in this case, you need to go up and check - the knock remained or passed. or the second option is to invite an assistant.
I needed to twist it more than one turn. as soon as there was little resistance on the key, I stopped. the rail no longer knocked.

after sea trials - the knock disappeared altogether, the suspension does not rattle again, elastically works out the pits.

Post has been editedks222: 11 September 2014 - 22:14

The device of the car is extremely complex and, despite the high cost and quality of its components, all parts have a margin of safety and sooner or later fail. In almost all models of modern cars, the most susceptible to wear and tear are the structural components of the steering rack. The Ford Mondeo lineup is no exception. It is the steering control system that bears the main load when driving, and the slightest bumps or pits on the road are directly transmitted to the rack by the steering rods. In addition, sudden movements of the steering wheel by the driver have an additional detrimental effect on the entire mechanism. Therefore, despite the increased strength, Ford Mondeo steering rack repair is required relatively often.

Ease of driving a modern car is one of the priority factors for most motorists. It is the lightest possible turn of the steering wheel and the "obedience" of the car on the road that become key when choosing a new car. However, not all motorists think that the more complex and expensive the mechanism is, the more expensive it will be to repair the steering system.
Several basic types of automotive steering rack structures are used in modern vehicles. The classic mechanical system has remained today only on outdated domestic cars.The relatively new hydraulic rack is the most common option found on most vehicles today. The newest design of the control system installed on the newest car models is electric. In this version, there is no power steering, and driving is carried out by an electric motor. This design is most ideal for most road conditions, however it is quite expensive.

In order to competently and as efficiently as possible carry out the repair of the Mondeo steering rack, experts strive to diagnose all components of the mechanism. The main components that make up the steering system:

• Carter (or body). All the components of the steering rack are located in it, it is mainly made of light aluminum alloy, which makes it quite vulnerable.
• Gear and toothed bar kit. It is with their help that the movement is transmitted from the steering wheel to the rods and further to the wheels.

Spring system. It is responsible for the absence of a gap between the rack and the gear, which guarantees that there is no arbitrary movement of the steering wheel.

Bearings. They move the rail when cornering.

Limiters. Establish and adjust the extreme positions of the rail.

Steering rods. They are attached to the sliding parts of the rail.

Tips. The wheels are turned directly.

Power steering. Provides easy wheel turning.

On more expensive modern cars, there are additional steering mechanisms that make the car comfortable and enjoyable to drive. However, if it is necessary to often drive on poor-quality roads, the motorist risks, because of all these "bells and whistles", much faster to disable the entire steering rack mechanism.

The Ford Mondeo 3 rail should be repaired only in specialized service centers, since only professional craftsmen thoroughly know the structure of the steering mechanism, so they can quickly and efficiently eliminate the damage that has arisen. In order not to need an emergency repair of the steering rack Ford Mondeo 3, you need to know the main features of the power steering system:

• The design of the power steering of Ford Mondeo cars is partially built into the rack housing and its operation is possible only when the power device is running.
• The torque is transmitted by a temporary transmission, after which the hydraulic booster is started, which sets the required pressure inside the car's rack housing.
• A special computer sets the direction of pressure when moving on the rail and the amount of transmitted force.
• The pressure is built up using a spool valve, which increases the pressure only in the required sections of the rail.
• The complex of an electronic system and a special torsion bar determines the direction of pressure, which helps to turn the steering wheel at a certain moment of movement.
• A container with oil is filled exclusively when the engine is turned off, as well as when driving straight. When the car is turning, oil from the reservoir, using the spool valve, enters a certain compartment of the steering rack and creates the required pressure level for turning.
• The power steering pump directly controls the injection of oil to the machine's rack, and then returns it back to the reservoir when the pressure on the steering wheel is removed.

Such a system greatly facilitates the process of driving a Ford Mondeo, however, it requires constant preventive maintenance and checking for oil leaks.

The number of different malfunctions that can occur in the steering mechanism is significant. It depends on the design of a particular steering rack, because manufacturers are constantly improving this mechanism, trying to attract the attention of potential buyers. The increasing complexity of the device, in turn, leads to difficulties in the repair and maintenance of the vehicle's steering system.Repairing the Mondeo 3 steering rack, fortunately, will not cause great difficulties for the car service specialists, since the steering design of this car has already become classic and is not much different from the repair of the Mondeo 2 steering rack.

• The knock of the rack in the area of ​​the front axle of the car. At first, it is not very noticeable and occurs only when driving on an uneven road. If you do not contact the service in time, the knocking will gradually increase and will be given to the steering wheel area. As a result, it may be necessary not only to repair, but also to replace the complete steering linkage mechanism Ford Mondeo 3.
• Difficulty running the steering wheel. Difficulties arise when turning the steering wheel in both directions and at the same time the whistle of the mechanism is heard.
• Difficulty turning the steering wheel, which disappears with increasing speed, while an itching sound appears.
• Poor steering wheel at a power steering oil temperature of up to 30 degrees. With an increase in temperature from 50 and above, the steering wheel travel is normalized.
• Difference between steering angle and steering angle, vehicle drifts and steering difficulties.
• Vibration of the steering wheel when driving straight ahead.
• Power steering fluid leaks.
• Lack of return of the steering wheel to its original position, as well as its spontaneous movement.

If the steering rack malfunctions, it is rarely possible to repair or restore. Most often, it is most optimal to completely replace the rail or even the entire mechanism. Competent car service specialists will not only replace the steering structure, but can also strengthen the assembly, thereby increasing its reliability.

If you need to replace the rail, you should purchase an original Ford part. Cheaper analogues or components from other manufacturers may not work reliably enough and will not provide the proper quality of driving. It is important to remember that the steering mechanism is one of the most important mechanisms in a car, which not only ensures the transfer of forces from the steering wheel to the wheels, but is also responsible for driving safety.

Passed the acoustic diagnostics of the rail at the dealer, at the same time announced a leak (seepage) of the gur liquid on the left side of the rail.

They removed the protection, there are no drops, the Engineer first tried to assure that something had been spilled into this place of the rail at the time of pre-sale, showed him a photo right after the purchase, where everything is dry)).

We decided to throw off the boot and see if the oil seal can leak, everything is also dry. I say it is necessary to wash it off and observe, in response - the same costs, you need to get a solvent, it will be paid, I just suggested to seal the gur tank.

Then we hung up the microphones and went for a drive, immediately compared the recording with the “reference” one, there is an excess of noise, as a result, the rail was defective, I am waiting for the receipt and invitation for replacement.

I connected Ford Sollers Holding LLC to the problem with the rail, before that I had applied three times to no avail, the first time right after the purchase.

Hello everyone. This morning I talked to a friend, I bought a Ford in 2012, he is a Subaru Forester 2.5 liters (power steering rake), I changed the rail 2 times, I swore and as a result my nerves gave up and I sold Ford, because I'm tired of fighting with dealers and proving obvious things to them and wasting a lot of time on it. But why am I all this:
3 months ago, my friend started talking about some kind of knocking in front of him when driving through irregularities and quietly driving on gravel and uneven roads, we rolled with him two weeks ago and I felt the same almost knock that I had on Ford. Yesterday he had a steering rack replaced under warranty, saying that some sort of bushings were breaking. The mileage was only 28,300 km, the knock began somewhere in the thousands from 22,000.
This is what I mean, after this situation, I realized that not only Ford cars, but also eminent Japanese manufacturers, suffer from the problem of the steering rack. Neighbor Honda Accord and his front suspension is just as noisy, but he is not steaming, according to him, he was at the dealer and he was also told that this is a cosmetic knock (apparently there are now managers from Ford working there)

So guys, apparently this is a common trend in new cars from most manufacturers, including Japanese ones.
I changed my opinion a little about Ford, but the problem in 90% of cases is not in AUTO (they all break down), but in dealers. The Subaru dealer, after 20 minutes of finding the car in the pit, recognized the case as a warranty and exactly 10 days later, changed the rail, there was no need to spend a lot of nerves on sensors, listen to bikes for design features, etc.
Well, something like this))) Take care of your nerves, they are more expensive)))

While traveling by car, we are responsible for the passengers who are next to us, therefore, our vehicle must always be in good condition. This is possible subject to a systematic visit to the service station.

• Diagnostics and prevention using modern digital equipment;
• Overhaul and partial repairs of main components and assemblies;
• Repair of the engine, running gear, transmission;
• Restoration of body geometry in case of an accident or road accident;
• Paint and varnish and ground works;
• Restoration of the interior trim;
• High-quality and fast repair of the Ford Mondeo 3 steering rack at the best prices;
• In stock and on order, original parts and spare parts for any domestic and foreign brands.

Despite the fact that the American and European manufacturers Ford repeat about the high-quality assembly of their models, not all of them meet the declared standard. The most common "disease" is the chassis. Yes, you can sin on poor road surface or low-quality parts, but the fact remains.

Ford Mondeo of the third generation is no exception. Before him, two restyling also had similar problems. Obviously, the reason goes much deeper. In order to increase profits, the manufacturer decided to save on some parts.

So, problems with the steering rack begin already at the third MOT, as a rule it is 80-100 thousand km. mileage for the European version. American models have a longer range. With a faulty unit:

• Knock on the rail when driving over rough terrain. Subsequently, the knock will be heard even with an even surface;
• When turning the steering wheel, a crunch and squeak is heard;
• When the steering wheel is turned to the left or right as much as possible, it wedges at the end point;
• During the start of the movement, when the car is not warmed up, the steering wheel is disobedient. After warming up to 55 ℃, the situation is normalized;
• Oily stains form under the rail after the machine has been standing still for some time;
• The steering wheel does not return to its original position after the end of the turn.

Our workshop mechanics often face such problems. As the owners themselves explain, at that time they did not have sufficient means for diagnostics, otherwise they did not have time. This does not save or facilitate the work. Indeed, for a regular inspection, you need only an hour and a half of time at the service station. The specialist will issue a complete conclusion on the condition of your car.

After registration of the inspection service, digital sensors are connected to the main components of the car, displaying the results on the central monitor. The employee diagnoses the main units, identifies critical areas, prepares a list of work to eliminate.

• The protection of the oil pan is dismantled, provided that it was installed;
• It all starts with draining the lubricant from the power steering;
• Unscrewing the ends of the tie rods on each side;
• With the help of a special key-nozzle, the fastening bolts that fix the column with the body part of the car are removed;
• The branch pipe is disconnected - oil supply to the power steering;
• The electrical wires leading to the sensors are disconnected;
• The rail itself is removed through the lower part of the engine compartment. For more convenience, it is recommended to detach the exhaust system pants.

• Worm oil seals - stock, gears;
• Right and left bushing;
• Oil seal at the top of the gear;
• Power steering oil 2 liters factory recommended, but other brands may be used;
• An O-ring on the power steering union, preferably two, as it may burst during installation.

1. A set of sockets and spanners, especially on "19", as this is the main wrench.
2. Box wrench for "18" for unscrewing fittings, frame, stretcher.
3. Special U-shaped key for the subframe.
4. Head for "15" and "17" steering tips. The factory version is the first, the second, if the Ford Mondeo 3 rail was repaired on the territory of the CIS countries, set to "17" for simplicity and convenience. As they say, the original and not the original.
5. In the presence of standard rods, a key for "31" will do, non-standard - an ordinary gas key.
6. Finally, hexagons, heads, pullers, awl, rags, vice.

After the rail is removed, it is immediately cleaned of dirt and rye for ease of work. It is enough to wash it in kerosene or gasoline. Wipe with a rag.
We grip it in a stationary vise, but not very tightly, since the aluminum case may burst.
We begin parsing one by one and conduct a parallel inspection. First of all, pay attention to the presence of obvious defects and damages on the case. If there is, then the replacement of the base is unambiguous.
Inside the rail, it is imperative to replace the oil seals, plastic bushings, anthers.
Inspect the worm, rack and pinion for the integrity of the teeth.
Check the bearings for play, the condition of the splines at the ends of the rods. With a sharp start or strong slipping, they wear off and slip.
As for the power steering, there can be only one breakdown - the erased edges of the gear on the rotation shaft.
Reassemble in reverse order.
After installation, new oil is poured into the power steering up to the level mark. The machine is checked and tested on a special stand.