SATHEESAN MP, L/ME, SNPTC-KANHANGAD

SEMESTER-IV
AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING
MODULE -3
STEERING SYSTEM
A steering system is a group of parts that control the direction of a vehicle. It includes
the steering wheel, steering shaft, rack and pinion, and linkage. It also transforms big
rotations of the steering wheel into small, accurate turns of the wheels, giving a solid and
direct feel to the steering. Almost every single car has a steering assist mechanism; some are
hydraulic with a reservoir for power steering fluid, while others use an electric assist. The
electric power steering assist is more common these days, which is good because you don't
need that fluid, and there is less maintenance needed.

The main functions of the steering system is to provide vehicle turning per will of the
driver, directional stability, it converts the rotary movement of the steering wheel into an
angular turn of front wheels, and absorbs road shock from being transmitted to a driver's
hands.

Functions of steering system

1. Achieve angular motion of the front wheel.

2. Provide directional stability for the vehicle while going straight ahead.
3. Provide perfect steering condition i.e. perfect rolling motion of the road wheels.
4. To facilitate straight ahead recovery after completing a turn.
5. To minimise tyre wear.
Requirements of a good steering system

1. The steering mechanism should be very accurate and easy to handle.

2. The effort required to steer should be minimal and must not be tiresome to the
driver.

3. The steering mechanism should provide directional stability for the vehicle. Which
means the vehicle should have a tendency to return to its straight ahead position
after turning.

Front axle:

Front axle carries the weight of the front part of the automobile as well as facilitates steering
and absorbs shocks due to road surface variations. The steering system converts the rotary
motion of the driver’s steering wheel into the angular turning of the front wheels as well as
to multiply the driver’s effort with leverage or mechanical advantage for turning the
wheels. The steering system, in addition to directing the vehicle in a particular direction
must be arranged geometrically in such a way so that the wheels undergo true rolling motion
without slipping or scuffing. Moreover, the steering must be light and stable with a certain
degree of self-adjusting ability. Steering systems may also be power assisted.

steering system has three components:

1. Steering column
The rod that the steering wheel is attached to. The column carries steering inputs to the
steering rack or box.

2. Steering gearbox

Contains gears that transfer the driver's steering inputs to the steering linkage. The gearbox
also multiplies the steering changes so that the front wheels move more than the steering
wheel.

3. Power-assisted steering system

Provides power assistance to the steering. The power assistance can be electric or hydraulic,
depending on the make and type of the vehicle.

STEERING GEAR
The steering gear converts the circular motion of the steering wheel into linear motion, which
is applied to the wheels via tie rods and a steering knuckle. The steering gear also provides
a gear reduction, so turning the wheels is easier.

The three main types of steering gears used for most modern vehicles are:

1. worm and worm sector steering gear

2. Rack and pinion steering gear
3. Recirculating ball steering gear
1. WORM AND WORM SECTOR STEERING GEAR

The Worm and Sector Steering Gear Box is a type of steering gear system that uses worm
and sector gear as its main components. The sector gear, which looks like a quarter portion
of a circle with teeth, meshes with the worm gear to enable both gears to contact each other.

As the steering wheel and worm gear are rotated, the sector gear attached to the pitman arm
shaft will slide, allowing a maximum arc of 70 degrees. This 70-degree angle represents the
maximum angle that the wheel can turn. A ball-bearing system is used between the gears to
allow free play. One of the main disadvantages of this steering mechanism is that it tends to
develop more friction.
WORKING OF WORM AND WORM SECTOR STEERING GEAR

In this type of steering mechanism, the steering shaft has a worm gear attached to it at its
end. It meshes directly with a sector gear. It is called ‘sector’ gear because it’s only a section
of the full gear. When you turn the steering wheel, the steering shaft turns the worm gear.
The sector gear rotates around its axis as its teeth move along the worm gear and moves the
Pitman arm.

In worm and sector design, the bearings support the worm at both ends. Besides, the
manufacturers provide some mechanism for adjusting the bearings to control the end play.
The Pitman arm shaft fits into the steering gear housing supported by bushings. However,
sometimes the manufacturers also use roller bearings. They also provide a screw for backlash
adjustment to move the sector closer or away from the worm gear. This controls the backlash
between the sector and worm threads or teeth.

A worm and sector steering system works as follows:

1. When the steering wheel is turned, the steering shaft rotates the worm gear.
2. Ball bearings transmit the turning force from the worm gear to the ball nut, which
moves in and out.
3. The movement turns the sector gear and shaft.
4. The sector gear and shaft move the Pitman arm.
5. The Pitman arm works the linkage to turn the wheels

2. RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM

Rack and pinion steering is a system that converts the circular motion of the steering wheel
into linear motion to turn the wheels. It consists of two main components:

Rack: A toothed metal bar

Pinion: A small, circular gear connected to the steering wheel

The rack and pinion gear assembly is the central component of the rack and pinion steering
system. The steering system in vehicles is responsible for enabling the driver to control the
wheels' direction. It comprises various components, including the steering wheel, steering
column, steering gear, and tie rods.

WORKING OF RACK AND PINION STEERING

Rack and pinion steering consist of a rack, a long bar with teeth along its length, and
pinion gear, a small round gear connected to the steering wheel. These two components work
together to convert the rotational motion of the steering wheel into linear motion that controls
the movement of the wheels.

When the driver turns the steering wheel, the pinion gear rotates. As the pinion gear
turns, it engages with the rack, causing the rack to move either to the left or right. This rack
motion is transmitted to the wheels through the tie rods connected to the rack's ends. As a
result, the wheels turn in the desired direction.

The tie rods are essential components that connect the rack and pinion gear assembly
to the steering knuckles and wheels. They play a crucial role in transmitting the steering
motion from the rack and pinion gear to the wheels, allowing for directional control. The tie
rods have inner and outer ends, with the inner ends attached to the rack and pinion gear
assembly and the outer ends connected to the steering knuckles. The length of the tie rods
can be adjusted to ensure proper alignment and optimize steering geometry.
3. RECIRCULATING BALL STEERING GEAR

Recirculating-ball steering is used on many trucks and SUVs today. The linkage that
turns the wheels is slightly different than on a rack-and-pinion system. The recirculating-
ball steering gear contains a worm gear. You can image the gear in two parts. The first part
is a block of metal with a threaded hole in it. This block has gear teeth cut into the outside
of it, which engage a gear that moves the pitman arm (see diagram above). The steering
wheel connects to a threaded rod, like a bolt, that sticks into the hole in the block. When the
steering wheel turns, it turns the bolt. Instead of twisting further into the block the way a
regular bolt would, this bolt is held fixed so that when it spins, it moves the block, which
moves the gear that turns the wheels.

Instead of the bolt directly engaging the threads in the block, all of the threads are filled with
ball bearings that recirculate through the gear as it turns. The balls actually serve two
purposes: First, they reduce friction and wear in the gear; second, they reduce slop in the
gear. Slop would be felt when you change the direction of the steering wheel -- without the
balls in the steering gear, the teeth would come out of contact with each other for a moment,
making the steering wheel feel loose.

POWER STEERING.

Power steering is a mechanical device that reduces the effort required to turn a vehicle's
steering wheel. It uses a power source, such as hydraulic or electric mechanisms, to amplify
the torque applied to the steering wheel by the driver. Power steering makes it easier for a
vehicle to turn or maneuver at low speeds, especially when driving heavy vehicles. It can
also help absorb shocks when driving on bumpy roads.

There are several types of power steering systems.

1. Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS)

Uses a pump driven by the engine to pressurize hydraulic fluid. The fluid increases the input
force on the steering wheel, reducing the effort needed to turn the front wheels.

2. Electric power steering

Uses an electric motor to add or subtract angles to the direction of rotation. At low speeds,
the electric motor supplements the rotation of the driver. At high speeds, the electric motor
rotation slightly counteracts the driver's instructions.
 WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Wheel alignment means the relative position of the wheels for obtaining a true and free
rolling movement over the road.

The important alignment factors are: -

1. Tracking 2. Toe – in and Toe – out, 3. Caster 4. Camber, 5. King pin inclination,

Tracking. For good steering, handling and vehicle stability, it is necessary that rear wheels
should follow the front wheels properly. This condition occurs if all the four wheels are
parallel to the frame. This is called tracking.

TOE-IN TOE-OUT.

While the vehicle is moving straight ahead, the wheels should be parallel. In the event they
are pointing inward, they are said to be toe-in, where as if they are pointing outward they are
said to toe out.

Effect of Toe-in and toe-out

1. Small amount of toe-in provided initially helps the wheels to move perfectly straight
ahead under normal condition.

2. Some front wheel vehicles is provided with initial toe out to counter the tendency to
toe-in present therein.

CAMBER.

Camber is the tilt of the car wheels from the vertical. Camber is positive if the tilt is
outward at the top. Camber is also called wheel rake.

EFFECT OF CAMBER

1. Tyres should roll on the road vertically so that the wear is uniform.
2. Positive camber makes the rolling radius at different point of the tyre is different, as
a result of which the tyre tend to roll like a truncated cone. Thus the wheels toe-out.
 3. Positive camber makes the tyre to wear more on the outer side.
4. Negative camber will make the wheel to toe – in and wear more on inner side of the
wheel.
5. Initially a positive camber is provided on the wheel so that when the vehicle is loaded,
they automatically comes to a vertical position.
6. Caber should not exceed 2 degrees.
CASTER.

The angle between the king pin centre line and the vertical is called the caster angle. Caster
is the slant of the steering axis or kingpin as viewed from the side of the vehicle. Caster is
positive when the top of the steering axis slants to the rear of the vehicle and negative
when it leans to the front.

EFFECTS OF CASTER

1. Positive caster makes the wheel to

be pulled in any direction.
2. Positive caster provides directional
stability.
3. Vehicle having positive caster,
while taking a turn , makes the outer
tyre to be lowered and inner one to
be raised.
4. 3 degree of caster gives good result.

KING PIN INCLINATATION .

Inclination of the king pin from vertical is the king pin inclination.

Effect of King Pin Inclination

1. King pin inclination helps the straight ahead recovery thus providing directional
stability.

2. When the vehicle takes a turn the inclination of King pin causes the vehicle body to
move up, in relation to the wheels now the weight of the body tends to return the
wheels to the straight ahead potion.

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