Steering Fundamentals

Chapter 65

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Objectives
List the parts of steering systems
Describe the principles of operation of steering
systems
Compare linkage systems to rack and pinion
Describe how power steering systems operate

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Steering Systems
Steering system works with the suspension
system
Components
Steering gear
Steering linkage
Steering wheel
Steering column
Styles of steering
Gear box and parallelogram linkage
Long rack with linkage extending from ends

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Steering Gears
Common types
Recirculating ball and nut steering gear
Rack and pinion steering gear
Steering ratio
Amount of steering wheel rotation
Steering wheel turned all the way in one direction:
stops against a lock
Turning radius
Amount of space required for a vehicle to turn
around

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Recirculating Ball and Nut
Steering Gear
Sector gear meshes with ball nut
Ball nut rides on bearings on the worm shaft
Provides smooth steering feel
Ball nut has curved channels
Steering shaft has bearing channels
Balls rotate and recirculate through tubes

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Rack-and-Pinion Steering
Characteristics
End of steering shaft has a pinion gear
Meshes with the rack gear
Lighter and easier to install than standard
steering gears
Often has a faster ratio
More easily damaged when front wheels hit a
curb or rock
Transmit more road shock

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Steering Linkage
Steering gear is connected to wheels by
steering linkage
Parts vary depending on design
Tie-rods
Steering arms
Steering-knuckle
Parallelogram steering design
Most popular
Used with long and short arm suspension

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Parallelogram Steering Linkage
Recirculating ball gear uses parallelogram
steering
Name comes from parallelogram shape made by
steering linkage during a turn
Characteristics
Tie-rods on each side connected by center link
Pitman arm connects steering box to center link
Idler arm supports center link on passenger side

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Ball Sockets
Ball sockets connect steering linkage parts
Allow parts to rotate during a turn
Pivot as the steering deflects during a bump

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Tie Rods
Tie-rod ends attached to pivot points at front
wheels
Transmit motion from steering wheel to front
wheels
Maintain correct front wheel toe
Threaded adjusting sleeve connects inner and
outer tie-rods
Right-hand thread on one end
Left-hand on other

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Steering Arm
Tie-rods attach to front wheels at steering arms
Steering arm is attached to steering knuckle
Includes spindle
During a turn
Inside wheel must turn sharper than outside
wheel
Steering arms angled inward
Ackerman angle
Toe-out-on-turns

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Rack-and-Pinion Steering
Linkage
Rack and pinion: less complicated
Two tie-rods come out of steering rack
Conventional tie-rod end ball sockets on outer
ends
Inner tie-rod ends are ball sockets enclosed in
rubber bellows or boots
Steering damper
Minimizes effect of road shocks to steering wheel

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Steering Column
Steering wheel splined to steering shaft located
in center of steering column
Locknut retains steering wheel to shaft
Shaft supported by bearings at top and bottom of
column
Tilt columns allow driver to adjust steering wheel
angle
Air bags are installed on steering wheel
There is flexible coupling between steering shaft
and splined input shaft of steering gear

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Power Steering
Steering systems on most cars today are power
assisted
Some manual units are still made
Most power steering is hydraulic
Pressure supplied from crankshaft by belt-driven
pump

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Power Steering Pump
Steering pump driven by crankshaft belt
supplies hydraulic pressure to assist steering
Power steering pump types: roller, vane, and
slipper
Operation
Pump develops more flow at higher speeds
Flow control valve is almost always working
Requires considerable horsepower to operate

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Types of Power Steering
Power steering is either rack-and-pinion or
conventional recirculating ball and nut units
Most power steering systems are integral
Recirculating ball power steering
Gear boxes use pivot lever or torsion bar acting
on spool valve
Rack-and-pinion systems
Fluid is directed to a chamber on either side of
the rack

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Electronically Controlled
Variable Effort Power Steering
Reasonable speed: fixed power assist not
necessary
Late-model vehicles: vehicle speed determines
amount of power assist
Pump-controlled units: actuator solenoid
changes fluid flow
Steering gearcontrolled steering assist: boost is
sensed by module
Four-wheel steering systems: improve handling

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Electronically Controlled
Steering Systems
Can be steering-by-wire or mechanically
connected using electro-hydraulic steering gear
AFS system changes between low and high
speed steering assist
Electric motorpowered steering systems use a
rack-and-pinion steering gear
Electric power steering improves fuel economy
Controls amount of assist by regulating current
Planetary gear active steering
Input is sun gear and output is planetary carrier
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning