Checking the traction adjustment
1. First check that the tires are in good condition and have normal pressure.
2. Accelerate the vehicle, level off the vehicle and check for straight line movement with the steering wheel released.
3. Turn the steering wheel slightly from the neutral position and check that it returns when released.
4. If the return is slow or hard, first check the rack guide shoe adjustment. Note that the adjuster is not accessible when the steering gear is installed in the vehicle, so the mechanism must be removed first. Check steering wheel steering assistance (power steering only).
5. First check the fluid level and drive belt tension.
6. Park the car on a dry, level surface, start the engine and turn the steering wheel several times from lock to lock until the fluid warms up (60-80°C). Rotate the steering wheel one full turn (360°) in any direction from the neutral position, place a dynamometer on the steering wheel rim and measure the force required to rotate the wheel further in the same direction at idle speed.
7. If the measured force exceeds a certain value, the system is faulty. The hydraulic system can be checked by measuring the operating pressure. The mechanism can be directly checked only by removing it from the car and measuring the torque of the gear and the force of movement of the rack. If the steering gear is faulty, it must be replaced as a complete unit.