Steering repair in Millbrook. Play, knocks and heavy steering, sorted.
DVSA Approved MOT Test Station · Example demo station
Play in the wheel, a knock when you turn, steering that's gone heavy or a power-steering warning light. Steering faults are an MOT fail and a safety issue, and they're rarely as expensive as they sound: most are a track rod end or a rack end, not the rack.
Symptoms
- Play or a dead spot in the wheel — track rod ends, rack ends or a worn rack.
- Knock when turning, especially at low speed — a joint, a rack mount or a worn column coupling.
- Heavy steering, or heavier one way than the other — low or old power steering fluid, a failing pump, a leak, or an electric power steering fault.
- Whine when turning — hydraulic pump on its way out or air in the system.
- Power steering warning light — on electric systems, a fault the car has logged; needs the codes read before anything is replaced.
- Wandering on the motorway or uneven tyre wear — worn joints or geometry out.
What we do
- Ramp check of every steering joint under load, and the rack for play and leaks.
- Track rod ends, rack ends, steering racks, hydraulic pumps and pipes replaced with quality parts; electric power steering faults diagnosed with dealer-level equipment before a part is ordered.
- Geometry set afterwards on any job that disturbs it. A new track rod end without the tracking reset ruins a tyre.
Price: quoted per job after inspection, with parts and labour itemised. Track rod ends and rack ends are usually same-day; racks and pumps are quoted for your exact car.
Steering questions
Is play in the steering an MOT fail?
Yes. Excessive play at the wheel, or a worn joint the tester can move by hand, is a major defect. A fail on a steering item usually means a dangerous grading if the wear is bad enough, so it's worth checking before the test.
Is it the rack or just a rod end?
Far more often a rod end. We check each joint separately on the ramp and only recommend a rack when the rack itself has play or is leaking.
My power steering light is on but it still feels fine. Can I keep driving?
For now, carefully. On electric systems the light can mean assistance is about to drop out, which makes the car very heavy to steer at low speed. Get the codes read soon.
Do you do wheel alignment afterwards?
Yes, where the job affects it — we won't hand a car back with the tracking out after replacing steering parts.