Steering Mechanisms

PURPOSE: This rule describes the procedures and standards for the inspection of steering mechanisms. The inspection of steering mechanisms is a requirement of section 307.365, RSMo. (1) Steering Wheel Play. (A) An inspection for steering wheel play will consist of checking steering sector for looseness and binding condition. If vehicle is equipped with power steering, the engine must be running and the fluid level and belt tension must be adequate before testing. Turn steering wheel through a full right and left turn. If equipped, inspect energy absorbing steering column. (B) Inspect steering. 1. Reject vehicle if— A. Steering gear binds or jams other than at wheel stops; B. There is more than two inches (2") of free movement in steering wheels up to and including eighteen inches (18") in diameter or more than three inches (3") in steering wheels over eighteen inches (18") in diameter; C. Power steering belt slips, is frayed, if serpentine power steering belt has sections missing, if fluid level is below manufacturer’s minimum fluid level, if hoses or connections are leaking, if a power steering unit has been disconnected and has not been converted to manual steering, or if any component part is missing, loose, malfunctions, or leaks sufficient fluid to cause droplets; D. Energy absorbing steering column is collapsed or partially collapsed; E. Steering wheel and steering column are not properly secured; or F. Steering gear box or steering rack assembly is not securely mounted. (2) Front and Rear Wheel Play. (A) An inspection for front and rear wheel play, which includes steering linkage, pitman arm, idler arm, stabilizer bar(s), connections, link(s), wheel bearings, tie rod ends, and adjusting sleeves, can only be made by putting the ball joints under load. To load ball joints, the vehicle must be hoisted— 1. Under the frame if the spring or torsion bar is on the lower control arm (Figure 1, included herein); 2. Under lower control arm, close to ball joint, if spring or torsion bar is on upper control arm (Figure 2, included herein); and 3. From the underside of axle (Figure 3, included herein) if the vehicle is equipped with king pins or Twin I-Beams with ball joints (Figure 10, included herein). (B) Inspect front and rear wheel bearings by grasping the tire by both top and bottom, and rocking it in and out. To verify that any looseness detected is in the wheel bearings, notice the movement between the brake drum or disc and the backing plate or splash shield. (C) Inspect front wheels, king pin (spindle bolts), and idler arm for play. On vehicles with power steering, the engine must be running. Eliminate all wheel bearing movement by first applying the service brake. Grasp front and rear of tire and attempt to turn assembly right and left. Then grasp top and bottom of tire and attempt to rock it in and out. Observe movement at extreme front and rear—top and bottom—of tire (Figures 4 and 5, included herein). (D) Inspect all steering linkage, pitman arm, stabilizer bar(s), connections, link(s), tie rods, and adjusting sleeves for locked joints and looseness by working them up and down and back and forth by hand. (E) Inspect condition of all upper and lower control arms, pivot shafts, pivot shaft mountings, radius arms, and all bushings. 1. Reject vehicle if— A. Wheel bearing looseness in an adjustable wheel bearing allows relative movement between drum and backing plate (disc and splash shield) of more than one-eighth inch (1/8") measured at the outer circumference of the tire for vehicles ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or less, or one-quarter inch (1/4") for vehicles more than ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) GVWR; B. A wheel bearing is broken, or falls apart when a wheel is removed to inspect a brake; C. Front wheel movement is in excess of one-fourth inch (1/4") for wheels sixteen inches (16") or less, three-eighths inch (3/8") for wheels over sixteen inches (16") to and including eighteen inches (18"), and one-half inch (1/2") for wheels over eighteen inches (18") (see Figures 3, 4, and 5, included herein). (An idler arm or king pin must meet this criteria before being rejected.); D. Excessive vertical (up and down) or lateral (side) movement is evident in any of the steering linkage sockets, tapered studs are loose in their mounting holes, any movable joints are locked, any adjusting sleeves are loose, or any joints are not secured with cotter pins or other devices; E. A sealed wheel bearing hub assembly exceeds the manufacturer-recommended wear specifications; F. A control arm or radius arm is badly bent or broken, or if a pivot shaft or a pivot shaft mounting or any control arm, radius arm, pivot shaft bushing is badly worn or missing; or G. Stabilizer bar(s), links, or connections are badly worn, missing, loose, or broken. (3) Springs and Shock Absorbers. (A) A visual examination must be made of all springs, torsion bars, shock absorbers, bushings, shackles, and “U” bolts with the vehicle on a hoist or jack. (B) Reject vehicle if— 1. Springs or torsion bars are loose, broken, or spring pieces or torsion bars are missing; 2. Spring shackles or “U” bolts are worn, missing, loose; or 3. A shock absorber is missing, disconnected, not securely attached, broken, or if rubber bushings or mounting bolts are worn-out or missing. (4) Ball Joints. (A) An inspection for ball joint wear can only be made when the joints are unloaded, except those ball joints having a wear indicator. An inspection of a ball joint which has a wear indicator must be made while the ball joint is under load with the weight of the vehicle on its wheels. To unload ball joints, the vehicle must be hoisted: 1. Under lower control arm if spring or torsion bar is on lower control arm (Figure 6, included herein). The lower ball joint is the load-carrying ball joint and the upper ball joint is the nonload-carrying ball joint; and 2. Under frame if spring or torsion bar is on upper control arm (Figure 7, included herein). The upper ball joint is the load-carrying ball joint and the lower ball joint is the nonloadcarrying ball joint. (B) In checking the condition of an unloaded ball joint, a ball joint gauge need not be used if the inspector is absolutely certain that the ball joint movement does not exceed the manufacturing tolerances. A vehicle will not be rejected unless the vertical (up and down) or horizontal (side-to-side) movement in the load-carrying ball joint has been accurately measured by a ball joint gauge and the measurement exceeds the manufacturing tolerances. A vehicle requiring a special tool or method to measure ball joint movement will not be rejected unless the ball joint is obviously dangerous. Acceptable ball joint tolerances are determined by the manufacturer. If the ball joint movement exceeds manufacturing tolerances, the measured movement shall be listed with the defective part on the MVI-2 form (see 11 CSR 50-2.120). (C) Inspect ball joints with wear indicator, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, included herein. Wipe the grease fitting and boss free from dirt and grease. Observe if boss is flush or inside the cover surface. (D) Follow manufacturing recommendations to inspect ball joints without wear indicator. (E) Inspect ball joints on Twin I-Beam axles using the following procedure. Eliminate all wheel bearing play by applying the service brake. Raise the vehicle by hoisting under the I-Beam axle beneath the spring as shown in Figure 10, included herein. Grasp the lower edge of the tire and move the wheel in and out. While the wheel is being moved, observe the lower spindle arm and the lower part of the axle jaw. Grasp the upper edge of the tire and move the wheel in and out. While the wheel is being moved, observe the upper spindle arm and the lower part of the axle jaw. Movement of thirtyone thousandths inch (.031") or greater between the lower or upper portion of the I-Beam and ball joint indicates that a measurement should be made at the circumference of the wheel adjacent to the ball joint that exhibits movement. (F) Reject vehicle if— 1. The grease fitting boss on the wear indicator type ball joint is flush or inside the cover surface; 2. MacPherson Strut Suspension System has severely worn or missing thrust bearing or mounting bushings. If piston rod is bent or unit is not securely mounted to vehicle; 3. There is free play in any direction in a nonload-carrying ball joint. If vertical (up and down) movement in a loadcarrying ball joint exceeds manufacturing tolerances; or 4. Any joints are not secured with cotter pins or other devices, or if ball stud is loose in the mounting hole. HIGHWAY PATROL HIGHWAY PATROL HIGHWAY PATROL AUTHORITY: section 307.360, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Nov. 4, 1968, effective Nov. 14, 1968. Amended: Filed March 27, 1969, effective April 6, 1969. Amended: Filed March 9, 1970, effective March 19, 1970. Amended: Filed Sept. 24, 1970, effective Oct. 4, 1970. Amended: Filed Nov. 9, 1971, effective Nov. 19, 1971. Amended: Filed Aug. 17, 1972, effective Aug. 27, 1972. Amended: Filed May 21, 1974, effective May 31, 1974. Amended: Filed Feb. 26, 1975, effective March 8, 1975. Amended: Filed Dec. 1, 1975, effective Dec. 11, 1975. Amended: Filed June 14, 1976, effective Sept. 15, 1976. Amended: Filed Sept. 1, 1977, effective Dec. 11, 1977. Amended: Filed Jan. 16, 1978, effective April 13, 1978. Amended: Filed March 3, 1980, effective June 12, 1980. Amended: Filed Jan. 12, 1982, effective April 11, 1982. Amended: Filed July 14, 1982, effective Oct. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed Aug. 15, 1983, effective Nov. 11, 1983. Amended: Filed Aug. 26, 1985, effective Nov. 28, 1985. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 1987, effective Nov. 12, 1987. Amended: Filed July 27, 1988, effective Oct. 27, 1988. Amended: Filed Feb. 16, 1990, effective May 11, 1990. Amended: Filed April 2, 1992, effective Sept. 6, 1992. Amended: Filed June 2, 1993, effective Nov. 8, 1993. Amended: Filed Oct. 3, 1994, effective April 30, 1995. Emergency rescission and rule filed March 2, 1998, effective April 1, 1998, expired Sept. 27, 1998. Rescinded and readopted: Filed March 2, 1998, effective Aug. 30, 1998. Amended: Filed March 15, 1999, effective Sept. 30, 1999. Amended: Filed Sept. 15, 2000, effective March 30, 2001. Amended: Filed Sept. 15, 2003, effective March 30, 2004. Amended: Filed Oct. 3, 2005, effective March 30, 2006. Amended: Filed Oct. 30, 2020, effective June 30, 2021. *Original authority: 307.360, RSMo 1967, amended 1971, 1973, 1979, 1999.