Things You'll Need:
- Mopar power steering fluid
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Step 1
Stay on top of steering maintenance. Chrysler recommends that you lubricate steering and suspension ball joints every 6,000 miles. Use this as your opportunity to look for signs of wear and for parts that need tightening or adjustment.
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Step 2
Top of power steering fluid levels with Mopar power steering fluid; never use automatic transmission fluid. Check the fluid level with the engine off to prevent injury from any moving components. Make sure the belt is still tight and double-check to make sure the hoses are tight and nothing leaks.
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Step 3
Rotate and balance your tires on a regular basis and replace in pairs when the tires show signs of wear. Bad tires can affect steering and throw the front end out of alignment, which can affect steering even more.
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Step 4
Reduce excessive steering wheel play by checking the ball sockets and the clearance in the steering gear box. Look for ball studs that wiggle and squeeze the rubber boots and inspect the tie rod ends in the rack and pinion system. You should lock the steering wheel and raise the front end, then force the front wheels right and left to see if parts are loose.
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Step 5
Raise the front end to check for excessive friction if the steering wheel is hard to turn. Disconnect the pitman arm and turn the steering wheel. If the wheel turns fine, the problem is with the linkage. If not, you need to check the steering gearbox.
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Step 6
Track down noises by looking for looking for linkage wear, loose components or poorly lubricated bearings and joints. To see if the power steering belt is slipping, turn the wheel from right to left to increase pressure.
