Loose Steering in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
Loose or sloppy steering usually means worn tie rod ends, ball joints or a worn steering gear, and it is worth checking soon because it can get worse quickly.
You feel it on a windy day on the flat stretch between Hillsboro and Marion, when you are making small corrections every few seconds and the truck still seems to have its own ideas. Steering parts hold your wheels in place, so play in them is not something to live with. Bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
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Text us which onesHow we fix loose steering at Moxie
We find every loose part, not just the worst one. Steering play often comes from two or three worn parts at once, and fixing only one leaves the steering still vague.
We tell you what is urgent and what can wait. A ball joint close to failing needs doing now, and we will say so plainly, along with what can be planned for later.
We align it after the repair. New steering parts change the alignment, so we set it on our Hunter equipment and your tires wear evenly again.
Then we drive it. The steering has to feel tight and hold a straight line, and you approve every repair before we start.
Why Hillsboro brings loose steering to Moxie
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Hunter alignment equipment
Every steering repair is followed by an accurate alignment, on every make.
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Warranty good at over 17,000 shops
Steering repairs carry the NAPA nationwide warranty for 24 months or 24,000 miles.
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An ASE-certified technician
Our technician is ASE certified in engine repair, automatic transmissions and drivetrains, and Moxie pays for ASE testing for the whole team.
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We come and get it
Free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of the shop, which covers Newton, Hesston and McPherson.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Loose steering myths we hear at the counter
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Sounds like yours? Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you straight.
Can I keep driving?
Only to the shop, gently. Stop if it gets worse.
Loose steering comes from worn parts that connect the steering wheel to the tires, and those parts can wear out completely. A little play that crept in slowly is usually safe for a careful drive to us. If it changed suddenly, clunks loudly or the car darts on its own, leave it parked and we will come and get it.
Stop driving and call us if
- The looseness got much worse suddenly
- You hear a loud clunk and the steering feels different afterward
- The car darts or swerves without you turning the wheel
- A front wheel looks tilted or out of line
- You see fluid leaking near the front wheels
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What loosens up steering around here
- Tie rod ends and ball joints worn by potholes and washboard gravel roads across Marion, Harvey, McPherson, Chase and Lyon Counties
- Road salt and moisture that dry out and rust steering joints
- A worn steering gear or rack, especially on older trucks
- Worn control arm bushings that let the wheel shift
- A loose or worn wheel bearing that lets the whole wheel rock
- Heavy loads and larger tires that put extra strain on the steering
How we diagnose loose steering in Hillsboro
- We ask how long it has felt loose and whether it changed suddenly.
- We road-test it on straight roads and in turns to feel where the play is.
- We lift the front end and check every tie rod, ball joint and bushing for movement.
- We check the steering gear or rack and the wheel bearings.
- Then we show you the worn part and tell you how urgent it is.
Loose steering across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Loose steering questions we hear every week
Is loose steering dangerous?
It can be, because the worn parts that cause it hold your wheels in place, and a joint that wears all the way out can let a wheel turn on its own. A little play that built up slowly is not usually an emergency, but it should be checked soon.
Will an alignment fix loose steering?
An alignment alone will not fix it. Alignment sets the angle of the wheels, and loose parts let those angles change as you drive. The worn parts need replacing first, and then an alignment finishes the job.
Why does my truck feel loose after I added bigger tires?
Bigger, heavier tires put more strain on the steering and can wear the joints faster. They can also change how the truck tracks if the alignment was not set afterward. We check both and tell you which it is.