Steering Systems

Topics covered in this presentation:

 Basic Steering Systems
 Linkage Steering
 Rack-and-Pinion Steering
 Power Steering
 Terminology
• The Steering Wheel – The Bit the driver holds on to! It also incorporates
the Air Bag.
• Steering Column – The shaft connecting the steering wheel to the steering
box or steering rack.
• Steering Rack – A combination of a small gear and a toothed rack. This
changes the rotation of the steering wheel into a back and forth
movement of the rack which in turn moves the road wheels.
• Steering Box – This does a similar job to the rack but needs extra linkages
and rods to connect it to the road wheels. Mostly used on old cars, but still
is in use on larger vehicles.
• Track rod/Tie rod – A rod to connect the left and right steered wheels. The
steering rack is also the track rod.
• Track rod end – A ball joint to allow steering and suspension movement.
• Ball joint/Swivel joint – Part of the suspension, but these are joints which
allow the steered wheels to left and right.
• PAS – Power assisted steering. An engine driven pump or electric motor,
provides extra force to help the driver turn the steering.
• Tracking – toe in or toe out setting for the steered wheels.
 Steering assembly at rest, the Axle
longer bar represents the front
suspension axle, the shorter bar
Steering
Ackerman
is the steering linkage/mechanism.
Principle
Ackermann stated the
principle that when a
vehicle travels in a
curved path, its wheels
should describe circles
around the same centre.
A wheel which follows a Steering assembly
markedly different path in operation, as the
will slide to some extent, steering linkage is
this would cause shorter than the axle,
excessive tyre wear. The the inner wheel is
steering mechanism is turned through
designed to insure that a larger angle.
when the vehicle turns
left or right, the inner wheel
is turned through a larger
angle to prevent tyre wear
Turning Radius (Ackerman Principle)
When turning, the inner wheels must turn on a tighter radius than the outer,
this helps avoid unnecessary tyre wear.
The steering system is designed to compensate for the different radiuses.

Toe-out is increased on turns.

Small adjustments can be made, but normally any error will result in worn or
damaged components being replaced.
 Front Wheel Tracking
Tracking – A steering adjustment which is used to insure that the
steered wheels are pointing straight ahead when the vehicle is moving

Toe-in - The wheels point inward,

toward each other.

This setting is critical for tyre

wear. A small amount of Toe-in
helps compensate for the
effect of rear-wheel drive.

Toe-out - The wheels point

away from each other.

A small amount of Toe-out

is normal on front-wheel
drive vehicles.

Zero “toe” effect is required when the

vehicle is moving. This helps reduce
tyre wear (scuffing or feathering).
Steering Shafts and Columns
Nearly all steering systems use a steering column or shaft to link the driver
(steering wheel) to the steering rack or gear/box.

Flexible coupling isolates steering Steering

wheel from road shocks. wheel

Universal joints allow steering

shaft angles to change. Flexible
Collapsible coupling
Most steering columns are
section
designed with a collapsible Universal
section that helps prevent joints
forces generated in a collision
Master spline
being transferred to the driver. location
Bottom of steering column normally Steering rack
has a master spline where it mounts or gear/box
onto the steering rack-and-pinion or
steering gear/box. Next >
Basic Steering Systems
Two main types of steering: Steering knuckles

 Linkage or Conventional Track rods

type (also known as
Parallelogram). Drop arm Idler arm
 Rack-and-pinion type. Steering
gear/box
Centre link
Linkage type uses a worm gear
inside the steering gear/box, this
operates the drop arm, then couples Rack-and-pinion
to a centre link, idler arm, track rods
and the steering knuckles.

Rack-and-pinion type uses track Track rods

rods to couple the rack to the
steering knuckles.

Next >
Rack-and-Pinion Type Steering System
Rack-and-pinion steering is more
precise and compact.

Uses less component parts.

Steering
Steering rack column

Boot
Ball joint

Steering
knuckle
Track rod

More common on modern vehicles.

Next >
Rack-and-Pinion Steering Principle
Pinion gear is turned by steering shaft.

Pinion meshes with rack to

move it sideways.

Thrust spring holds

rack against pinion to
prevent backlash.

Pinion shaft is normally shimmed to minimize end float

(up or down movement) also reducing backlash.

Next >
Ball Joints
Ball joints are common on Track rod
Adjusting end
most steering systems and Inner track lock nut
provide a controllable link to rod
the other steering components.

Ball joints allow linkage

components to swivel freely.
Adjusting thread
Suspension (vertical) and Ball socket
steering (horizontal) movements.
Boot
Nearly all ball joints have some
form of adjustment.

Most steering rack ends have

adjustable ball joints and some Shock damper Inner track
incorporate shock dampers. assembly Ball joint rod
Next >
Linkage Type Steering System
Idler arm Drop arm (connected to steering
Idler arm gear/box)
bracket

Steering
damper

Track rod
assembly
Centre link

Linkage type steering has many component

parts and is normally found on older vehicles. Track rod
assembly Next >
Steering Gear/box Principles
Most linkage type steering systems require some form of mechanical
advantage, this is provided mainly by the gear ratio in the steering gear/box.

Three main types of steering gear/box:

 Worm Gear Worm gear type
 Re-circulating Ball
 Worm and roller (older Vehicles)

Re-circulating
Most common are “Worm Gear”
ball type
and “Re-circulating Ball”.

Drop arm couples to links.

Worm drive on steering shaft.

Re-circulating ball mechanism.

Small number of teeth needed. Next >