How to Install a Steering Bar on a Baghera Pedal Car

By Vintage Pedal Cars and Ride-Ons for Children - Baghera | Published: 2026-10-14

Category: How-to Guides

A step-by-step guide to fitting a 38 cm Baghera steering bar, checking the steering column, and tightening the assembly so your child's pedal car steers straight again.

Quick answer

To install a steering bar on a Baghera pedal car, park the car on a flat surface, remove the old bar and any mounting hardware, slide the new 38 cm bar onto the steering column, align it straight, and tighten the fasteners firmly without overtightening. If the column itself is bent, cracked, or loose, replace it at the same time so the new bar sits correctly.

Check the steering column before you fit the bar

A new steering bar cannot fix a damaged column. Before ordering or fitting the bar, turn the steering wheel through its full range and watch the column where it passes through the body. Look for bending, cracks, or a shaft that wobbles inside its bushings. If the column is bent, the bar will sit at an angle and your child will fight the steering instead of turning smoothly. If the column is cracked or loose, replace it now rather than after the bar is installed.

Gather the tools and parts you actually need

You will need the replacement steering bar, the original fasteners or new ones of the same size, and basic hand tools such as a screwdriver or spanner that matches your car's hardware. Keep a container for small screws so they do not roll away. Baghera lists the 38 cm steering bar under spare parts for pedal cars, so confirm the length matches the bar you are removing. If your car uses a specific column, check that the bar and column are compatible before you start.

Remove the old steering bar safely

Park the pedal car on a flat, stable surface and make sure your child is not in or near the car. Support the front of the car if the steering linkage moves when you push down. Loosen the fasteners that hold the bar to the column, then slide the bar off. If it is stuck, do not force it with a lever that could bend the column; apply a small amount of penetrating oil and wait. Keep the old bar aside until the new one is fitted and tested.

Step-by-step installation

1. Park and stabilize the car: Place the pedal car on a flat surface, engage any parking brake if fitted, and block the rear wheels so the car cannot roll while you work. Common mistake: working on a slope or soft ground, which lets the car shift and makes the column feel loose when it is not. Checkpoint: the car does not move when you push it sideways.
2. Remove the old steering bar: Loosen the fasteners holding the bar to the steering column and slide the bar off. Keep the screws and washers together. Common mistake: prying the bar off with a screwdriver against the car body, which scratches paint and can bend the column. Checkpoint: the column turns freely by hand with the bar removed.
3. Inspect the column and mounting points: With the bar off, look at the top of the column and the mounting holes for cracks, rust, or elongation. If the column is bent or the holes are worn, replace the column before fitting the new bar. Common mistake: fitting a new bar onto a worn column, which causes steering play within a few rides. Checkpoint: the column is straight and the mounting holes are round, not oval.
4. Fit the new 38 cm steering bar: Slide the new bar onto the column until it seats fully. Align the bar so it is centered and level with the car body, then start the fasteners by hand. Common mistake: forcing the bar onto a column that is not fully seated, which leaves one side higher and makes the car pull to one side. Checkpoint: the bar sits evenly on both sides and does not rock.
5. Tighten the fasteners in a cross pattern: Tighten the fasteners gradually in a cross pattern until the bar is firm. Do not overtighten, as this can crack plastic parts or strip threads. Common mistake: tightening one side fully before the other, which tilts the bar and strains the column. Checkpoint: the bar does not move when you try to twist it by hand.
6. Test the steering before your child rides: Turn the steering from lock to lock and watch the front wheels move smoothly. Check that the bar does not rub against the body or cables. Common mistake: skipping the test ride and discovering a loose bar when your child is already moving. Checkpoint: steering is smooth, centered, and free of rubbing or clicking.

Parts that fit this job

Steering bar (38 cm) - Pedal cars: The Baghera Steering Bar is a 38 cm replacement part for pedal cars, listed under spare parts and intended for compatible Baghera pedal cars. A 38 cm bar is the correct length for the compatible models, so measure your old bar before ordering to avoid a bar that is too short or too long.
Red steering column: The Red steering column is a Baghera spare part listed under Pièces Détachées, offered in a Standard version with SKU code 1721, intended as a replacement component for Baghera pedal cars and ride-ons. If your column is bent or damaged while the bar is off, this replacement keeps the steering assembly original and matched to the car.