Steering rack repair and replacement in Melbourne, at our Knoxfield workshop.
If the steering has started to feel loose, heavy or noisy, or there's power steering fluid under the front of the car, the steering rack is one of the first things we check.
We repair steering racks where a repair will last, and replace them where it won't. Every rack job is finished with a wheel alignment, so the car drives straight and the tyres wear evenly.
Signs your steering rack needs attention
- Loose or vague steering, or play in the wheel before the car responds
- A knock or clunk through the steering wheel over bumps
- Heavy steering, or steering that feels heavier turning one way than the other
- Power steering fluid leaking under the front of the car
- A whine or groan when you turn the wheel
- The car wandering on the road, or tyres wearing on one edge
Some of these can also come from worn tie rod ends, ball joints or suspension bushes. We check all of them before we quote, so you don't pay for a rack you didn't need.
Repair or replace?
Repairs. Split rack boots, leaking seals and worn tie rod ends can usually be fixed without replacing the rack. Caught early, these are the cheaper jobs.
Replacement. If the rack is worn inside, leaking internally or has play that can't be adjusted out, a reconditioned or new rack is the more reliable fix. We'll explain the options for your car and what each costs.
Either way, the car gets a wheel alignment afterwards, because rack and tie rod work changes the wheel angles.
Hydraulic and electric power steering
Older cars and many 4WDs use hydraulic power steering, with a pump, fluid and hoses. Leaks and a whining pump are the usual problems there, so we check the pump and hoses as well as the rack.
Many newer cars use electric power steering, with no fluid at all. Faults show up as heavy steering or a warning light, and we diagnose them with a scan tool as well as a hands-on check. See diagnostics.
What steering rack repairs cost
These are typical Australian prices, fitted, from independent cost guides. They give you a ballpark before you ring around. What you'll actually pay depends on the car and what's worn.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Tie rod end (each) | $95 – $300 |
| Steering rack replacement, most cars | $750 – $1,500 |
| European, larger 4WD or electric power steering rack | Often more than $1,500 |
| Wheel alignment afterwards (our price) | $90 – $300 |
A worn tie rod end or a split boot is the cheap end of the scale, and it's worth catching early. Once a rack is leaking or worn inside, replacement is usually the better value, because a repaired rack that leaks again costs you twice. Electric racks cost more because the motor and sensors are part of the unit.
We inspect the car first and give you a written quote, including the alignment, before any work starts. Our wheel alignment cost guide explains that last line.
Why drivers choose Tyre Doctors for steering work
- We find what's actually worn, whether that's the rack, a tie rod end or a bush.
- The alignment is done in the same visit, on our own equipment.
- Quoted before work starts, with nothing added without your OK.
- Owner-operated, with Terry, our master technician, on the mechanical side.
- 606+ five-star Google reviews from local drivers.
Book a steering check in Melbourne
Steering feeling loose, heavy or noisy? Call the workshop on (03) 9763 0100 or 0455 330 000, or book online. We're at 5/1644 Ferntree Gully Rd, Knoxfield.