Hi there, I have a 2008 lexus gs 350 awd at 137,600 miles and I'm having steering issues. So when I first replaced both of the cv axles, the vsc and traction lights were on at the time alongside the check engine light. Check engine light is for bad catalytic converter and O2 sensors (P0420 & P0430). The car became very hard to steer after the axle replacement. The car was not moving whether i shifted it into drive or reverse whenever i turned the steering wheel. It's almost as if there was no power going to the front wheels the more I turned the steering wheel and gave it gas. I was not able to make any kind of turns. Couldnt even make simple left and right turns. Car drove fine when the steering wheel was straight. A few days after the axle replacement, I got the codes cleared, and the car became somewhat more drivable but not back to normal. This time I am able to turn the steering wheel more and I am able to take left and right turns but I can't take any u-turns, sharp turns, or any kind of tight turns. I have a feeling that replacing the axles while the Trac and vsc lights were on might have started this problem because the car's steering was completely fine before the axles were replaced even though the vsc, traction, and check engine light on were on at that time, too. I feel as if the car will not be drivable again once all of the codes come back. I also tried to disconnect and re-connect the battery after clearing the codes to see if it would "hard reset" the car and it didn't work either. Some mechanics have told me to get the CATS and O2 sensors replaced first. I think this car might need a zero point calibration for the VSC. I've heard that the check engine light needs to be fixed first in order for the zero point calibration to work. I'm very stressed and irritated. Any kind of advice will help!!!

 

If you don't mind me asking, have you checked the power steering fluid level?
What was the cause for replacing the axles in the first place?

 

The car has no power steering fluid because it has electric power steering. The axles were replaced because the boots were ripped and grease was coming out.