4. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
7. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
10. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
12. 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!
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
13. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
17. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
18. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
21. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
24. Steering linkage
Steering linkage is anything connected to
the wheels and the steering gear
Tie rods
Steering arms
Steering knuckles
Ball joints
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
26. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
29. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
33. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
37. Steering designs
Parallelogram – used on cars with
recirculating ball gear steering
Rack and pinion – used on cars with a
steering rack and pinion gear
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
38. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
41. Rack and pinion
Fewer moving parts than the recirculating
ball
Smaller and more compact
Can be a center link type as well
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
45. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
49. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
50. 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
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
51. 4 wheel steering
3000GT VR4 All Wheel Steering demo – Yo
copyright 2011 - eric jaromin
