Steering System

Introduction

 This system provides the directional change in the

movement of an Automobile and maintain in a position as
per the driver’s decision without much strain on him.

 The means by which a motor vehicle is controlled about the

vertical axis. It allows the driver to control the course of vehicle
travel by turning the steering wheel, which turns the input shaft in
the steering gear
Requirements of Steering System

a. It must keep the wheel at all times in to rolling motion

with out rubbing on the road.
b. This system should associate to control the speed.
c. It must light and stable.
d. It should also absorb the road shocks.
e. It must easily be operated with less maintenance.
f. It should have self-centering action to some extent.
Functions of Steering System
 It helps in swinging the wheels to the left or right.
 It helps in turning the vehicle at the will of the driver.
 It provides directional stability.
 It is used to minimize the tyre wear and tear.
 It helps in achieving self-centering efforts.
 It absorbs major part of the road shocks.
Main Components of Steering System:
Main Components of Steering
System:
The steering system has three major components:
 The steering wheel and steering shaft. Transmits
driver's movement to the steering gear.
 The steering gear box.
a. It converts the rotary motion of the steering wheel
to linear motion.
b. It also multiplies drivers efforts and give
MEHANICAL ADVANTAGE.
 The steering linkage. Carries the linear motion to
the steering-knuckle arms.
Types of Steering
 When the only energy source for the steering system
is the force that the driver applies to the steering wheel, the
vehicle has Manual Steering.

 When the driver's effort is assisted by hydraulic

pressure from an electric or engine-driven pump, or by an
electric motor, the vehicle has power-assisted steering,
commonly known as Power Steering.

 Power steering allows manual steering to always be

available, even if the engine is not running or the power-
assist system fails.
Types of Steering Gear Boxes
1. Worm and Wheel Steering Gear.
2. Worm and Roller Steering Gear.
3. Re-circulating Ball type Steering Gear.
4. Rack and Pinion type Steering Gear.
5. Cam and Roller Gear type Steering Gear.
6. Cam and Peg Steering Gear.
7. Cam and Double lever Steering Gear.
8. Worm and Sector Type Steering Gear.
Worm and Wheel Type

This type of steering gear has a

square cut screw threads at the end
of the steering column; which
forms a worm, at the end of it a
worm wheel is fitted and works
rigidly with it. Generally covered
shaft is used for the worm wheel.
The worm wheel can be turned to a
new position and the drop arm can
be readjusted to the correct
working position.
Re-circulating Ball
In a re-circulating-ball steering
Type
gear, a worm gear is attached to the
lower end of the steering shaft. The
worm gear turns inside a ball nut
which rides on a set of re-
circulating ball bearings. These ball
bearings roll in the grooves in the
worm and inside the ball nut. Gear
teeth on one outside flat of the ball
nut mesh with a sector of teeth on
the output or sector shaft to which
the pitman arm is attached.
As the steering wheel is turned, the
rotary motion of the worm gear
causes the ball nut to move up or
down, forcing the sector shaft and
pitman arm to rotate. This action
moves the steering linkage to the
right or left, turning the front
wheels in or out for steering.
Rack and Pinion Type
This is common manual type of steering gear box is used in most of the vehicles.
In this type of steering a pinion is provided the bottom end of the steering
column. A tubular housing contains the toothed rack and a pinion gear. The
housing is mounted rigidly to the vehicle body or frame to take the reaction to
the steering effortThe teeth of the pinion wheel in mesh with corresponding
teeth provided on the rack, the end of which are connected to the stub axle
through the Tie rod. Tie rods connect the ends of the rack to the steering-
knuckle arms at the wheels. The rotating motion of the pinion operates the rack
in left and right direction which in turn moves the tie rods and steering-knuckle
arms in or out for steering
Worm and Sector
Type
In this type the worm on
the end of the steering
shaft meshes with a
sector mounted on a
sector shaft. When the
worm is rotated by
rotation of the steering
wheel, the sector also
turn rotating the sector
shaft. Its motion is
transmitted to the wheel
through the linkage. The
sector shaft is attached
to the drop arm or
pitmen arm.
Power Steering
 Power steering systems are
basically a manual steering system
with a power booster added.

 A pump supplies high-

pressure fluid when the driver turns
the steering wheel - this provides
most of the required steering effort.

 Generally, type F or type H

ATF is used as the power-steering
fluid.

 Power steering reduces much

strain on the part of the driver while
negotiating sharp curves. It makes
easy to turn sharp corners.
Steering Linkages
Steering Linkage is a connection of various links between the steering gear
box and the front wheels. The motion of the pitman arm and steering gear
box is transferred so the steering knuckles of the front wheels through the
steering linkages. The swinging movement of the pitman arm from one side
to the other side gives angular movement to the front wheel through the
steering linkages.
Imp Terminology
Slip Angle: The angle
between direction of the
motion of the vehicle and the
center plane of the tyre is
known as Slip Angle. It ranges
from 8º to 10º.

Under steer: When the front

slip angle is greater than that
of rear, the vehicle tends to
steer in the direction of side
force. Then it is known as
under steer. This provides
greater driving stability,
especially when there is a side
wind.
Imp Terminology
Over Steer: When the rear slip
angle is greater than that of front
slip angle, the vehicle tends to
mover away from the direction of
center path. This is known as
over steer. This is advantageous
when the vehicle moving on the
road having many bends curves.

Steering Gear Ratio or

Reduction Ratio: It has been
defined as the “ number of turns
on the steering wheel required to
produce on turn of steering gear
cross shaft to which the pitman
arm is attached. Generally it
varies between 14:1 and 24:1.
Imp Terminology
Turning Radius: It is the radius
of the circle on which the outside
front wheels moves when the
front wheels are turned to their
extreme outer position. This
radius is 5 to 7.5 m for buses and
trucks.
Wheel Alignment
 It is the
relationship of the
angles among the
front wheels, the front
wheel attaching parts,
and the ground.
 It returns to the
positioning of the front
wheels and steering
mechanism that gives
the vehicle directional
stability, reduce the
tyre wear to a
minimum.
Factors effects the wheel performance
1. Factors pertaining to wheel.
a. Balance of wheels (Static and Dynamic)
b. Inflation of tyre.
c. Brake adjustments.
2. Steering Linkages.
3. Suspension System.
4. Steering Geometry.
a. Camber.
b. Caster.
c. Steering axis inclination (SAI) .
d. Toe-in and Toe-out etc.
Camber
 Camber is the inward or outward tilt of a
wheel from the vertical when viewed from
the front of the vehicle.

 When the wheel tilts out at the top has

positive camber and when it tilts in, it has a
negative camber.

 Camber angle is measured in degrees.

 Usually, the wheel suspension is adjusted
to give a slight positive camber which may
becomes zero when loaded.

 For the road-crown and driver, the

driver-side wheel is given slightly more
positive (0.25°) camber.

 Camber at the front wheel can change

as much as ¾ degree.
Effect of Camber

 Any camber, positive or negative can cause

uneven and rapid tire wear.

 Incorrect camber at both wheels can cause hard

and unstable steering and wander

 Unequal camber can contribute to low-speed

shimmy.
Caster
 Caster is the tilt of the steering axis toward the front or rear
of the vehicle.
 If the tilt is toward the front, the wheel has a negative
caster, and if it tilts rearward, the wheel has a positive caster.

 Caster is measured in degrees.

Caster
The reasons for using caster are:
 To maintain directional stability
and control.
 To increase steering return-
ability.
 To reduce steering effort.
Steering axis
 The steering
axis is the line
around which a front
wheel swings for
steering. On a strut
suspension, the
steering axis is a line
drawn through the
centre of the upper
strut mount and the
lower ball joint.
Steering axis inclination (SAI)
 Steering axis inclination
(SAI) is the inward tilt of the
steering axis from the vertical as
viewed from the front of the
vehicle.
This inward tilt is desirable
● It helps steering stability by
returning the wheels to
straight ahead after a turn is
complete.
● It reduces steering effort.
● It reduces tyre wear.
Toe-in and Toe-out
 Toe-in and Toe-out are
the measures of how much the
wheels point in or out from the
straight-ahead position - ideal
running toe being zero.
 Positive caster tends to
make the front wheels Toe In
and negative caster make the
wheels Toe Out.
 The greater the toe or toe
angle, the faster the tyre wears.
Toe-in and Toe-out
 Typically the front wheels
of the RWD VEH are given a
slight Toe in of about 3mm.
 Some front –drive vehs
the front tires tend to pull in as
the veh move forward. these
vehs are given a small amount
of toe out.
.