mechanics.trade
Steering repairs
The steering links the wheel in your hands to the road wheels through a rack and a set of joints.
What steering repair means
Those joints wear, and when they do the steering feels vague and the tyres wear unevenly. Most cars now use electric assistance rather than hydraulic, which removes the fluid but adds electronics.
What the job covers
- Track rod ends and steering arms
- Steering rack replacement
- Power steering pump and hoses
- Electric power steering faults
- Steering column and universal joints
When you might need it
- Play in the wheel before the car responds.
- A knock over bumps, or a clunk as you turn at low speed.
- The steering feeling heavy on one lock, or an assistance warning light.
What it costs, and what changes the price
Typically £150 to £700.
- Which part. A track rod end is a small job; a steering rack is not.
- Alignment is needed afterwards on almost any steering work and is usually quoted with it.
- Electric assistance motors and sensors cost more than the hydraulic parts they replaced.
How long it takes
A track rod end is an hour or two including alignment. A rack is most of a day.
What the MOT data shows
Out of 42,728,066 MOT tests in 2025, these are the parts covered by this job that testers recorded as faults.
| Part | Recorded in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Track rod end | 1,091,631 |
| Ball joint dust cover | 1,072,435 |
| Ball joint | 731,444 |
Common questions
Is play in the steering an MOT failure?
Excessive play is, and worn joints are among the most common things found. Track rod ends alone were recorded over a million times in 2025.
Do I need alignment after steering work?
Almost always. Changing a joint changes the angle the wheel sits at, and leaving it wrong ruins tyres quickly.
What does the power steering warning light mean?
On an electric system it usually means the assistance has reduced or stopped. The car is still steerable but much heavier, and it should be looked at promptly.