STEERING

The vehicle or car steering system is the most important part in automobile vehicle steering
control, it should respond so well to the driver’s maneuvers while driving. Steering control
makes you feel safe while driving.

The steering system in the automobile, it is the process of running the vehicle in the desired
direction by turning, usually the front wheels. For effective control of the vehicle throughout its
speed range with safety, proper steering is necessary.

The system allows a driver to use only light forces to steer a heavy car.
Steering is also possible by the turning of the rear wheels, which is used generally in low-speed
slow floor vehicles, for lifting and transporting the heavy parts to a short distance for example
forklift.

Automobiles are always equipped with front-wheel steering. A simple sketch of a car steering
system is as shown in the following figure.
The Basic of Steering System

As you turn the steering wheel the steering shaft rotates the pinion gear. The teeth of the pinion
gear and the steering rack interlock as the pinion rotate. This rotation will push the rack when the
rack moves the attached rods and steering knuckles act as pivot points and turn the front tires.

For instance, rotating the steering wheel to the left will push the rack to the right pivoting the
front tires to the left.

The more you turn the steering wheel the more rack is pushed and the sharper the turn will be a
little confusing well don’t worry you don’t have to be a mechanic to steer a vehicle but we
wanted you to have visual of exactly that is occurring when you make that turn of the wheel.

Although there are many moving parts and words you have never heard of with little effort and
the help of your steering system its easy to steer your vehicle.
How a Car Steering System Works?
Steering system will convert the rotary motion of the steering wheel into the angular turn of the
front wheels.

 Steering wheel rotates the steering column.

 The steering gearbox is fitted to the end of this column. Therefore, when the wheel is rotated,
the cross shaft in the gearbox oscillates.

 The cross shaft is connected to the drop arm. This arm is linked by means of a drag link to the
steering arms.

 Steering arms on both wheels are connected by the tie rods to the drag link.

 When the steering wheel is operated the knuckle moves to and fro, moving the steering
knuckle are connected to each other.

 One end of the drag link is connected to the tie rod. The other end is connected to the end of
the drop arm.
The Purpose of a Steering System

For effective control of the vehicle throughout its speed range with safety and without much
effort to the driver on different types of the road surface, proper steering is necessary.

For proper performance and useful service of the automobile, it is necessary that the moving
vehicle should be under the perfect control of the driver. Thus the control of the automobile is
done by means of a steering system which provides directional changes to the moving
automobile.

Function of Steering System

The important function of steering system as follows:

1. With the help of the steering system, the driver can control the vehicle however he wants

2. The steering provides stability to the vehicle on the road.

4. It prevents road shocks from reaching to the driver.

5. The steering provides self-rightening effect after taking a turn.

Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment is defined as the correct adjustment of the pivot axes controlling the movement
of the wheels.

The wheels alignment, therefore, refers to the correct positioning of the front wheels and steering
mechanism for promotion easy of steering, reduce tyre wear to a minimum as well as to provide
directional stability to the vehicle.

Proper aligned front wheels result in.

 Steering comfort.

 Uniform wear of tyres.

 Minimum energy consumption.

 Minimum vibrations.

 No wheel wobbling.

 Reduce the driver effort to turn the vehicle.

 To achieve self-centring of the wheel after turning.

 To achieve directional stability of the vehicle while running.

Types of The Steering in an Automobile

Following are the three types of steering system:

1. Bicycle steering.
2. Turntable steering or centre pivot steering.

3. Ackarman steering or side pivot steering.

1. Bicycle Steering

In these types of steering system, the rare wheel is fixed while the front wheel is steered. For a
safe turning, it is essential that the two wheels must roll about a point. In this case, the
perpendicular of the front wheel when produces cut the addition of the perpendicular to the rear
wheel and that point is saying as the instantaneous centre.
2. Turntable or Centre Pivot Steering

In a four-wheel vehicle, the front two wheels are mounted on the axle and the axle, in turn, is
fixed to a turntable having a single pivot.

When the front wheels are turned, the whole front axle is turned about the central pivot. In this
case, also the perpendiculars of all the wheels meet at a point during any turn, so that the
turning is safe and wheels roll freely.

This type of steering system is commonly used in horse-drawn coaches and trails. This is
unsuitable for automobile vehicle because it is unstable at high speeds. Moreover, a centre pivot
steering arrangement requires a lot of space and because for the whole axle to turn.
3. Ackerman Steering or Side Pivot Steering

This is the modern steering layout of almost all automobiles. In this type of steering system, each
front wheel is turned individually about the side pivot.

The front axle is pivoted on either side of the axles. And as the stub axles, the wheels are
mounted. The stub axles are turned by steering arms connected to the tie rod.

The steering arms are not parallel but are inclined. The line produced from the inclined arms will
meet at the centre of the rear axle line forming an angle called the “Ackerman Angle”.

To obtain a good alignment it is necessary to understand the following factors,

1. Camber (Wheel rake or Camber angle).

2. Caster.

3. King Pin inclination.

4. Toe-in.
5. Toe-out.

Camber

The angle between the centre line of the tyre and the vertical line, when viewed from the front of
the vehicle, is known as camber. When the wheels are tilted outwards at the top is called positive
camber, and if titled inward at the is called negative camber. Equal camber angle is provided on
both the front wheels.

With the positive camber, wheels become verticle under load on the tyre will have full contact
with the road, hence the tyre wear will be uniform. If the positive camber is excessive then tyres
outer edge will rear will to wear out faster. If the negative camber is excessive the tyres inner
edge will wear out faster.
Unequal camber on both the front wheels will results in wheels vibration at low speed. Older
models have considerable camber. Present-day cars use improved design and materials they have
very little camber. The camber should not exceed 2°. The camber on modern vehicles is adjusted
by means of an eccentric cam in the control arm shaft.

Caster

The Kingpin axis or steering axis may be tilted forward or backward from the vertical line. This
tilt is known as Caster. Caster Angle: The caster angle is the angle formed by the forward or
backward tilt of the steering axis from the vertical when viewed from the side of the wheel.

A backward tilt is known as a positive caster and a forward tilt is known as a negative caster. If
the caster is not equal on both sides it will cause the vehicle to pull to the side of the wheel
having lesser caster angle. The caster angle in modern vehicles varies from 2° to 8°.

Purposes of Caster

 To maintain directional stability and control.

 To increase steering stability.

King Pin Inclination

The angle between the vehicle line and centre of the kingpin or steering axis, when viewed from
the front of the vehicle, is known as Kingpin inclination.

The Kingpin inclination in modern cars varies from 7° to 8°. It must be equal on both sides. It is
greater on one side than the other, the vehicle will tend to pull to the side having a greater angle.

The main functions of Kingpin inclination as follows,

 It helps in self-centring of wheels after taking a turn.

 To provide directional stability.

 It reduces steering effort.

Front wheels are slightly tilted inward at the front of the distance between the front wheels at the
front (A) is less than the distance at its rear (B) measured at the height of the hub level and at the
centre of the wheel tread.

The difference in its distance is ‘Toe-in’ (B-A). it is usually 2 to 3 mm. The purpose of the toe-in
is to overcome the bad effect of camber. The toe-in is adjusted by tie-rod ends.

Toe-out

Whenever the vehicle is taking a turn with Ackerman steering geometry the inner wheel turn
more degrees that the outer wheel so that the perpendiculars of all four wheels at a point when
produced. This point is called the instantaneous centre so that all the wheels roll very easy
without scuffing.