Lexus LX450 Steering wheel feels loose Inspection at your home or office.

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Steering wheel feels loose Inspection Service

How much does a Steering wheel feels loose Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Lexus LX450 Steering wheel feels loose Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1996 Lexus LX450L6-4.5LService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$132.49 - $145.62
1997 Lexus LX450L6-4.5LService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$112.52 - $125.67
Show example Lexus LX450 Steering wheel feels loose Inspection prices

A steering wheel that feels loose or has “play” in it prevents the driver form getting an accurate interpretation of how the wheels are turned. Any steering setup where you can move the wheel more than one to one and a half inches without moving the wheels is too lose and may have an issue. When the steering wheel feels loose it can be difficult from drivers to accurately know the position of the front wheels. This lack of responsiveness can be dangerous for drivers, especially in heavy traffic or winding roads.

How this system works:

The majority of modern vehicles use two different kinds of steering setup to help control the movement of the car. Rack and pinion steering is typically used on cars, small trucks and SUVs, while recirculating-ball steering is used on large SUVs and trucks. The similarities and differences in the two systems begin to manifest themselves when components fail, causing the steering wheel to feel loose.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Worn Tie Rods: Tie rods serve as the driver’s connection between the steering unit and the tires. Tie rods are present in both rack and pinion and recirculating ball setups. If tie rod ends become worn, they may cause the steering wheel to feel loose. A vehicle with worn tie rods may also squeak as the steering wheel is turned and be out of alignment.

  • Worn Pitman Arm: A pitman arm is only present in vehicles with recirculating-ball steering. The pitman arm connects a gear attached to the steering wheel to the steering rack itself. When the pitman arm becomes worn or the teeth in the gear connecting the pitman arm begin to slip, it can cause the steering wheel to feel loose.

  • Worn Ball Joint: Ball joints connect the vehicle’s wheel hubs to the rest of the suspension components. Depending on the vehicle, one or two ball joints per wheel and may or may not be load bearing. A ball joint that is worn may cause the steering to feel loose and may also create a banging sound, especially when going over bumps.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the reason for the loose-feeling steering. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report outlining the reason for the loose steering and the cost of any repairs that need to be made.

How it's done:

When the mechanic arrives, he or she will first lift the vehicle and remove the wheels so that they can better access the suspension and steering components. From here, the mechanic will be able to assess the reason why the steering has become loose.

If the mechanic suspects that worn tie rods may be the issue, he or she will inspect the tie rod for superficial damage. If the tie rod end had become worn or loose, the mechanic will remove it and replace it with a new one. The mechanic will also ensure after installation, that the new tie rod end is properly lubricated.

If the mechanic believes that the pitman arm has become worn, he or she will remove the pitman arm from the track bar and replace it with a new pitman arm. The mechanic should ensure that the new part is properly tightened.

If the mechanic suspects worn ball joints, he or she will remove the control arm(s) in order to access the faulty ball joint. He or she will then remove the old ball joint and replace it with a new one. The mechanic should also ensure that the new ball joint is properly lubricated in order to ensure longer life.

In the case of all repairs the mechanic will make sure that all the new parts have been installed correctly and are properly lubricated. In order to ensure that the steering is working properly, the mechanic may test drive the vehicle to check for excess play.

How important is this service?

A steering wheel that feels loose may not be giving an accurate indication of the front wheel’s position. Loose-feeling steering may also indicate that a problem has occurred with the steering unit or suspension. If you notice that the steering does not seem to be as responsive, you should stop driving the vehicle and have it inspected by a mechanic.

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Meet some of our expert Lexus mechanics

Real customer reviews from Lexus owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(6)

Rating Summary
5
1
0
0
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5
1
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Chris

22 years of experience
2266 reviews
Chris
22 years of experience
Lexus LX450 L6-4.5L - Power Steering Pump - Mission Viejo, California
Chris was prompt and professional. He provided a detailed description of the work completed and possible areas of maintenance I should be considering for my vehicle based on his inspection. I would not hesitate to contact him again for any service I might need for my vehicles in the future. It was a great experience.

Tam

22 years of experience
251 reviews
Tam
22 years of experience
Lexus LX450 L6-4.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - San Francisco, California

Rodney

36 years of experience
561 reviews
Rodney
36 years of experience
Lexus LX450 L6-4.5L - Exhaust Gas Recirculation/EGR Valve - Lincoln, California
great

Bernard

42 years of experience
40 reviews
Bernard
42 years of experience
Lexus LX450 L6-4.5L - Noise from engine or exhaust - Montebello, California
Outstanding mechanic.

Excellent Rating

(6)

Rating Summary
5
1
0
0
0
5
1
0
0
0
Number of Lexus LX450 services completed
66+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Lexus MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform

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