The steering system of your vehicle relies on several working components to provide you with control, responsiveness, and comfort during your drive.
If the intermediate steering shaft is failing, you may notice handling changes, abnormal noises, or difficulty turning.
In this article, we will discuss the signs of a bad steering shaft, the causes of failure, and the replacement costs.
What’s an Intermediate Steering Shaft?
Your vehicle’s steering system contains a part called an intermediate steering shaft. This shaft is the link between your steering wheel (your input) and the steering gearbox or rack and pinion.
Most intermediate shafts consist of a simple metal rod with a universal joint on each end. This allows the intermediate shaft to transfer rotation to the steering wheel while allowing for angle variations between components.
The intermediate steering shaft is designed to dampen vibrations that travel through the steering system from the road, as well as give flexibility in mounting positions in the steering system.
When you move the steering wheel, the intermediate shaft is responsible for transferring that movement to the steering mechanism so your wheels turn.
Symptoms of Bad Intermediate Steering Shaft
#1. Steering Wheel Hard to Turn.
One common symptom of a bad intermediate steering shaft is resistance in turning your steering wheel. You may feel the steering binding or sticking while cornering and parking, feeling like it takes a lot more effort to turn.
What is troubling about this symptom is how inconsistent it can be. At times, the wheel may turn with some effort, but then suddenly it is difficult to turn in mid-turn.
This inconsistency can happen when any of the hard parts in the shaft (especially the universal joints) begin wearing unevenly or they bind at certain angles.
Often, this condition is exaggerated in cold weather, when the lubricants inside thicken and become more viscous after being parked overnight.
Inconsistent steering input makes your vehicle unpredictable, and especially dangerous in an emergency, if you must apply quick steering input.
#2. Unusual Noises When Turning.
If you are hearing unusual noises when you turn the steering wheel, it may indicate problems with your intermediate steering shaft. The noises start as clicking, popping, or clunking sounds while turning sharply left or to the right while proceeding at low speeds.
These noises usually are the result of worn parts in the joints of the shaft or at the connection points of the shaft and other steering components.
Initially, the noises will be very subtle and infrequent, often being worse in the morning while cold. However, as parts wear, the noises will get louder and the frequency will increase.
#3. Indicator of Excessive Play or Slack In Steering.
Another sign you may experience is that the steering wheel becomes loose or develops noticeable free play or slack in the steering.
Loose, or slack steering, manifests as the ability to turn the wheel a certain amount before feeling resistance or seeing the wheels turn. The steering has a feel of being disconnected or loose, especially from the center position.
This occurs because a worn universal joint or coupling components creates small gaps in what should be a tight mechanical connection. As the joints and coupling deteriorate, the amount of steering play will increase, making precise steering almost impossible.
This is particularly dangerous to drive at highway speed, where lane position can be maintained with only very small steering inputs.
#4. Vibration In the Steering Wheel.
A faulty intermediate steering shaft will often cause noticeable vibrations felt through the steering wheel into your hands when driving, particularly when turning or at certain speeds.
The vibrations or shaking occur through imbalanced/damaged components in the shaft assembly, or worn universal joints that are not allowing it to rotate normally.
The amount of vibration typically correlates with the overall health of the component (light vibration indicates early stages of failure, and intense vibration indicates that something on the intermediate steering shaft has failed greatly).
Always take note if that is accompanied by something like steering resistance or strange noises. If that is the case, this can often indicate much more complex and rapidly failing issues on the vehicle that can lead to completely losing steering control.
#5. Irregular Steering Wheel Positioning.
In a steering system that has proper function, the steering wheel will return to the center after making a turn. An intermediate steering shaft that is failing will either not return correctly to a center position or settle in an off-center position while driving in a straight line.
This occurs because the damaged components of the steering shaft assembly provide binding, which binds up the self-centering action that occurs naturally within the assembly.
The misalignment when you are driving results in constant correction while driving straight highways or roads, which is exhausting mentally and physically, as well as compromising control of your vehicle.
Always take note of whether your steering wheel is sitting straight when going down level roads. A failing intermediate steering shaft can cause your steering wheel to constantly pull to one side, even when your vehicle has properly aligned wheels.
#6. Steering Wheel Moves, Wheels Don’t.
One of the most serious signs of an intermediate steering shaft failure is if you turn the steering wheel and the front wheels do not turn. Just imagine if this were happening while you were driving.
Typically, this means the steering connection failed in the steering system. The shaft may have disconnected the steering wheel from the steering gear, so the steering wheel can turn, but no motion is transferred to the wheels.
This condition usually needs immediate attention. Never keep driving if this happens. Even if this seems to be intermittent, the chance of suddenly losing steering while driving is very serious and needs to be investigated by a professional immediately.
#7. Loose Tilting of the Steering Wheel.
In vehicles equipped with adjustable steering columns (most of them), an issue with the intermediate steering shaft can impact the stability of the tilt mechanism.
The steering wheel may be difficult to lock in place, allowing unwanted motion during driving. When you lock in your preferred steering wheel tilt, it may drift out of that position, especially if you are applying force during a turn.
The instability is due to worn components in the steering shaft assembly, compromising both the rigidity of the column and the adjustments in the steering wheel tilt.
Being unable to maintain a fixed place for the steering wheel results in inconsistent ergonomics while driving, causing discomfort and poor control.
#8. Steering Column Movement.
When driving over a bump or rough terrain, if the intermediate steering shaft is worn, you could feel movement in the steering column itself. The steering wheel may appear to move slightly up and down, or slightly forward and backward.
The reason for this is that the shaft is not being fastened properly due to worn universal joints or spaced mounting points, which allow unwanted play across the other components of the steering system.
Had a driver describe this component moving as a weird looseness, like the steering column is even mounted to the vehicle properly.
This particular symptom generally means you have certainly exceeded the wear characteristics of the components in the steering shaft and is an advanced state of failure. Don’t drive like this.
#9. Inconsistent Power steering Assistance.
A failing intermediate steering shaft can sometimes cause an inconsistent level of assistance in the power steering system. It is possible that power steering assistance levels could suddenly decrease during a turn, making the steering unexpectedly heavy.
This happens when the steering shaft is damaged and creates irregular resistance within the steering shaft, therefore playing games with the pressure sensors in the power steering system. The steering assistance level may work fine going straight ahead, yet doesn’t seem to engage properly while turning or when parking.
This is often confused with a power steering pump issue, yet if you see patterns of irregular or sporadic functioning of the power steering (pumping sometimes and not others, etc.), you are looking at some sort of mechanical binding in the intermediate shaft that is affecting the operation of the entire steering system.
Intermediate Steering Shaft Replacement Cost
In terms of worn, faulty parts, replacement is the only solution for the steering shaft. Even when the bad steering shaft may be comprised of a few small bearings, in most cases, these isolated parts are not available, and thus, the steering shaft must be replaced as a whole.
The cost will differ based on your vehicle’s make and model. Some vehicles have the steering shaft as an integrated design, whereas others may have the steering shaft as a component.
Current industry replacement costs for intermediate steering shafts for common passenger vehicles typically range between $250 and $500. Parts prices will range from $125 to $250, and the remainder of the cost consists of labor.
When you’re having the repair done at a dealership, be aware that labor can add a significant amount of expense (30% to 50%) over independent repair shop costs.
Depending on the complexity of the repair and the need for special tools and training, it is still worth paying the dealership. Otherwise, most independent shops can perform this repair without issue.
Depending on their auto repair experience, some car owners may be able to perform a DIY repair of intermediate steering shafts to a limited extent with “older” vehicles. In most cases, you’ll want this job performed at a repair facility.
Common Causes of Steering Failure
- Moisture & Corrosion – Moisture causing corrosion is the most common cause of steering shaft failure. Moisture can bypass the protective seals that keep their bearings and u-joints free of water. Moisture that enters the shaft assembly creates rust. Rust binds the bearing and limits its movement. The movement constriction creates the binding or play associated with intermediate steering shaft failure.
- Normal Wear and Tear – The intermediate shaft’s moving parts wear down over time and with vehicle mileage. The intermediate shaft turns and rotates thousands of times during normal operation. Each time they do, they bend and stress a little more until the u-joints and bearings have excessive play. Most vehicle shafts show wear after 80-100k miles.
- Physical Damage from Impact – Any impact from an accident can affect the steering shaft. Large potholes, curb strikes, and debris can also contribute to bending or misaligning the steering shaft assembly. While the steering shaft may not fail at the point of impact, these impacts can cause a noticeable increase in wear on the intermediate steering shaft.
- Factory Manufacturing Defects – In some cases, vehicles show defects as soon as they leave the dealer. There is usually a known issue with factory parts. The known issue can range from improper materials, improper assembly, or just poor design that ultimately contributes to the premature failure of the steering shaft. This is especially true for steering shafts, because manufacturers have recalls on the steering shaft for the same model vehicle.
- Improper Repairs – Previous repairs when not properly aligned, installed, or positioned, or when previous and or today’s steering components can create malalignment of the steering components, increasing wear on any otherwise good and functional part. This is especially common with damaged vehicles purchased at auction and then repaired improperly.