Steering systems

Parts and function

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Steering system components

Steering wheel, column and shaft driver inputs Steering gear changes direction rotating steering wheel into linear motion Steering linkage connects steering gear to steering arms Ball joints allows movement of steering components and suspension
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Steering

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Steering wheel
Attaches to steering column and shaft by 1 or more fasteners, most single nut Have an interference fit on the shaft very tight fit, may need a puller May contain an airbag assembly, radio controls, cruise controls, etc

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Steering wheel

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Puller

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Steering column
Contains and supports the steering shaft May have a tilt mechanism May have telescoping mechanism Also houses ignition switch May be designed to collapse during front impact has plastic or soft metal rivets that are easily damaged or broken from improper use or removal
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Steering column

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Steering column

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Steering column coupler

Steering column couplers allow pivot points in the column Like a universal joint Loose or worn couplers will result in a loose steering feel, vibration, noise, or sticky steering feel

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Steering column coupler

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Impact
If the vehicle is involved in a front impact, always inspect the steering column and wheel Squeaking, chirping or rubbing sounds indicate damage Catching, binding and play indicate damage Especially if the airbag deploys!
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Steering ratio
Steering ratio is a measurement of how many turns of the steering wheel it takes to go from a full lock to the other full lock Basically how many turns from all the way left to all the way right Also measured from the center (straight) to a full lock turn Fast ratio is 3 turns lock to lock Slow is about 4 or 5 times lock to lock 15:1 ratio wheels move 15deg for 1 deg of steering wheel movement
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Variable ratio steering

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Steering gear systems

Recirculating ball Rack and pinion Power assist Electronic assist

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Steering

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Recirculating ball
Recirculating ball is used on trucks in modern vehicles Used on most vehicles prior to 1980 and the use of front wheel drive Uses balls on a worm gear Has a pitman arm

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Recirculating ball
Balls inside the gear ride inside guide paths Move from one end of the ball nut through guides, back to the bottom of the housing Uses a Parallelogram Linkage steering arm system Pitman arm moves steering tie rods
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Recirculating ball

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Recirculating ball

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Rack and pinion steering

Uses a rack and pinion gear Pinion meshes with a gear on end of steering shaft As gear rotates, pinion rotates and moves rack left or right

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Rack and pinion

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Rack and pinion

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Steering linkage
Steering linkage is anything connected to the wheels and the steering gear Tie rods Steering arms Steering knuckles Ball joints

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Steering linkage

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Tierods
Tierods are attached to pivot points on each front wheel The other end is attached to the steering gear or rack Allows for suspension movement Used to adjust TOE of the car tires face in / \ or out \ / when driving straight
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Tierods

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Tierods

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Steering arms
Tierods attach to the front wheels at the steering arms The steering arm is attached to the steering knuckle, which includes the spindle Used to get proper steering angle during turns
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Steering arms

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Steering knuckle and spindle

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Steering knuckle and spindle

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Ball joints
Allow suspension movement up and down, as well as turning movement Located in control arms in lower, as well as upper control arm if so equipped Wear items need replacement periodically

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Ball joints

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Ball joints

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Ball joints

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Steering designs
Parallelogram used on cars with recirculating ball gear steering Rack and pinion used on cars with a steering rack and pinion gear

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Parallelogram
Uses tierods connected to a center link Uses a pitman arm to move steering linkage Also uses an idler arm to support the linkage on the passenger side

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Parallelogram steering

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Pitman arm

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Rack and pinion

Fewer moving parts than the recirculating ball Smaller and more compact Can be a center link type as well

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Rack and pinion

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Rack and pinion

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Rack and pinion

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Power steering
Used to aid in steering Can be hydraulic uses a pump driven by the engine, or an electric motor, to pump fluid through the power steering rack/box to aid driver in turning the steering wheel Can be electric uses electric motor mounted on rack/box to help driver turn the steering wheel
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Power steering

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Power steering

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Electronic power steering

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4 wheel steering
Used by some manufacturers to aid handling Front wheels do most of the steering At low speeds, rear wheels steer opposite front to tighten turning radius At high speeds, rear wheels turn with front to improve handling and cornering
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4 wheel steering
Can be hydraulic or electric Front steering is usually normal power steering Rear wheel steering can be driven hydraulically or by electric motor

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4 wheel steering
3000GT VR4 All Wheel Steering demo YouTube

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