Steering System

Ever wondered what happens when you turn

the steering wheel ???
• The force your hand gives converted into torque by the steering wheel.
• This torque is transmitted to the steering shaft connected to the
steering wheel
• The shaft turns the pinion in case of rack and pinion mechanism
• The pinion then drives the rack
• The rack moves the tie rods
• The tie rods move the steering arm
• This in turn moves the wheels!!!

Steering Steering
shaft Pinion Rack Tie rods wheels
wheel arm
The Steering Wheel
 Steering Shaft

Transfers the rotary motion

from the steering wheel to
the steering gear box
 Steering Column
Supports the steering shaft helps
its mounting to the chassis

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 Rack and pinion
Converts rotary motion into
linear motion and transmits
it to the tie rods
Tie rods and Ball Joints
Tie rods transmit the linear motion of
the rack to the steering arm attached
to the knuckle.

Ball joints are used at the joints of

the tie rod with the rack and the
steering, this enables flexibility of
the joint when the car goes over a
bump. These are similar to what
we see in the joysticks.
Steering Arm and Knuckle
Steering arm is attached to the knuckle which in turn is attached to
the wheels , this assembly transmits the linear motion of the tie rod
to the rotary motion of the wheels and makes it turn.

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Pitman Arm
It is used to convert rotary
motion of the steering
shaft to linear motion of
the track rod attached to it.
Steering Gear boxes
Steering Worm Sector Pitman
shaft gear gear arm

Steering Recirculating
Worm gear Sector gear Pitman arm
shaft balls

Steering Worm Pitman

Roller
shaft gear arm
Steering Ratio
• Steering ratio is the ratio of the number of degrees turned at the
steering wheel to the number of degrees the front wheels are
deflected.

e.g. : -15/1

• 15 – angle to which the wheel is deflected

• 1 - angle to which the steering wheel is turned
Types of Steering system
• Manual steering system
1. Rack and Pinion Mechanism
2. Parallelogram Steering
• Power Steering
1. Hydraulic Steering System
2. Electric-Hydraulic System
3. Electric System
Parallelogram Steering System

Steering Gear Pitman Track Steering

Shaft Tie rod wheels
wheel box arm rod arm
Rack and Pinion Steering System
Hydraulic Power Steering
Electronic Power Steering
Ackermann Steering
• Ackermann steering geometry avoids slipping of tyres as the car goes
around a corner by turning the wheels to different angles. The inner
wheels have to turn a tighter curve when compared to the outer wheels
so turning the inner wheels to greater angle will ease the turn without
slipping.
Turn Radius
• The turning circle of a car is the radius of the circle described by the
outside wheels when turning on lock-lock condition.
 Understeer

• Understeer is a phenomenon in
which the car steers less than
you want it to.
• This happens mainly due to loss
of grip in the front wheels
Over Steer

• It is phenomenon in which the

car steers more than u want!

• This is mainly due to loss of grip

in the rear wheels

• Generally you have to counter

steer to overcome these.
Bump Steer
• When your tyre moves over a bump , we experience an unnecessary
steering action.
4 wheel Steering
• Both the front and rear wheels are steered giving a very good
performance to the car
 Thank you !!!
Queries contact:-

Bharath Ram R
3rd year B.Tech Mechanical Engg
Contact No.:-9962295548