Thinking about electric steering racks? You’re not the only one – heaps of newer cars in Hamilton and the Waikato are turning up in the workshop with these these days. If you’ve bought a new car since about 2020 or you’re running something that’s under 5 years old – could be a Nissan X-Trail, Suzuki Vitara, a Hyundai Ioniq EV, or one of the European numbers like a Peugeot 308 – there’s a good chance your car’s got electric steering. All this stop-start traffic on Te Rapa Road, dodgy potholes out Morrinsville way, and endless speedbumps under the lime trees in Hamilton East – these racks cop a real hiding.
What’s a steering rack?
So, in plain English, your steering rack is basically a bar that connects your steering wheel to your front wheels. Part of the rack and pinion system you’ll find in just about every car – from your mum’s Mazda Axela through to a big old Kia Carnival. You turn the steering wheel, the rack slides side to side, and your car points where you want it. Easy as.
What’s an electric steering rack?
Now, unlike the old hydraulic systems, electrics use an electric motor to give you steering assist. There’s sensors reading what you’re up to, firing signals to a computer in the rack, and the electric motor does the grunt work – just when you need it. So if you’re cruising down Peachgrove Road straight ahead, it isn’t drawing any current. But if you want to whip around the corner into Dinsdale or dodge a pothole in Gordonton, the motor helps you out. Simple, quick, effective – and lighter than the old hydraulic gear too. Good for town driving, tight parks at The Base, or any of those little side streets in Cambridge where space is at a premium.
Power steering rack vs electric steering rack
The big difference? With hydraulics, the pump’s always running, even when you’re sitting at the lights on Victoria Street midwinter with the heater blasting. It’s chewing a bit more fuel, working the engine, adding weight and mechanical drag. Electrics kick in only when you’re turning, so it saves fuel, runs smoother, and you’ll get a tidier drive. That makes a difference when you’re doing the Hamilton-to-Te Awamutu shuffle on a hot summer’s day – less work for the engine, less overheating, better for the hybrid setups as well.
Can you swap a hydraulic for an electric?
Sorry, nah – if your car came with a hydraulic system, you can’t just chuck a modern electric rack in. There’s computers, sensors, a whole heap of extra wiring. If your car came out of the factory with an electric steering rack, we can help out with repairs or like-for-like swaps, but it’s not a quick upgrade for older wagons.
Electric steering rack issues
Look, just like anything else under the bonnet, these do wear out. A lot of our customers from Ngaruawahia, Tamahere, even out in Raglan, have run into steering dramas after big potholes, age, or a bump. You might notice the steering going stiff – not easy to turn when you’re heading into Pak’nSave and wrangling a tight park. The other thing is your check engine light – or sometimes a specific steering warning – coming on. Don’t ignore those – could be the motor, a sensor fault, dodgy wiring, even water getting in after winter downpours. We get a fair few Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit owners in with electrical faults after a Hamilton winter or after driving through the big puddles outside Hillcrest.
Steering rack repairs around Hamilton
If you reckon there’s something a bit off – maybe your steering feels heavier than usual or the dash is lighting up – get your steering rack checked quicksmart. Doesn’t matter if it’s hydraulic or electric. Catch it early, and it’ll save you headaches and cash. At Grimmer Motors, our techs have sorted everything from a wonky Hyundai i30 to a tricky Skoda Octavia electric rack in the last month alone. We’ll check it, diagnose it, and get you back on the road without any drama. Need to book in? Click below and we’ll sort you out.