Car Bibles: The car steering bible.

http://www.carbibles.com/steering_bible.html

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The Steering Bible

I am a pro-car, pro-motorbike petrolhead into basic maintenance. This site is self-published to spread my knowledge. By reading these pages, you agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the author, any sponsors and/or site providers against any and all claims, damages, costs or other expenses that arise directly or indirectly from you fiddling with your vehicle as a result of what you read here. If you hurt your vehicle or yourself, don't blame me. Translated versions of this site: Svenska

Steering : essential to driving

El s e wh e re o n th i s s i te yo u ca n l e a rn a b o u t a l l th e o th e r s tu f f th a t m a k e s a ca r g o a n d s to p , s o th i s p a g e i s wh e re yo u ' ll le a rn a b o u t h o w i t g o e s a ro u n d co rn e rs . M o re s p e ci f i ca l l y, h o w th e va ri o u s s te e ri n g m e ch a n i s m s wo rk . L i k e m o s t th i n g s i n a ca r, th e co n ce p t o f s te e rin g is s im p le - yo u tu rn th e s te e ri n g wh e e l , th e f ro n t wh e e l s tu rn a cco rd i n g ly, a n d th e ca r ch a n g e s d i re cti o n . H o w th a t h a p p e n s th o u g h i s n o t q u i te s o s i m p l e . W e l l - i t u s e d to b e b a ck i n th e d a ys wh e n ca rs we re ca l l e d h o rs e l e s s ca rria g e s , b u t n o wa d a ys , n o t s o m u ch . Find Musta ng ste e ring whe e ls at Am e ricanMuscle .

Latest blog entry

03/21/2011 07:00 AM

OnStar for everyone.

Starting this spring, OnStar will begin selling their OnStar Anywhere product for $299. Essentially it's an OnStar-equipped rearview mirror that you swap out for your existing mirror. It's designed to allow access to many of OnStar's services for either a monthly or annual fee. Because the mirror itself includes accelerometers, it will allegedly be able to detect a crash and call OnStar for you. In addition, it provides access to emergency services, stolen vehicle location (it has built-in GPS too), turn-by-turn navigation (call them, tell them where you want to go, and OnStar will download directions into your mirror), roadside assistance and hands-free calling via bluetooth to your phone. Now I'm ambivalent about OnStar. Frankly I don't see the point, and I think their fear-mongering TV commercials are patronising and unethical. But this at least product does get rid of the biggest evil because it's a standalone device, it's not hooked in to your car's on-board computer or engine management system, meaning it's not open for hacking and abuse. Of course this also means that if you're dumb enough to lock your keys in your car, GM can't unlock it for you. However because it has a mic in it for the hands-free telephone integration, OnStar will be able to listen in to whatever is going on in the car, whenever they want, and the GPS can be used to track you without you knowing. Both have happened before, and both will happen again - don't kid yourself that the law will protect you on that front. So if you're desperate for the mental crutch that OnStar provides, and don't mind a constant GM spy in your car, it's yours shortly for $299 and a recurring fee.

Basic steering components

9 9 % o f th e wo rl d ' s ca r s te e rin g s ys te m s a re m a d e u p o f th e s a m e th re e o r f o u r co m p o n e n ts . T h e s te e ri n g wh e e l , wh ich co n n e cts to th e s te e ri n g s ys te m , wh i ch co n n e cts to th e tra ck ro d , wh i ch co n n e cts to th e ti e ro d s , wh i ch co n n e ct to th e s te e ri n g a rm s . T h e s te e rin g s ys te m ca n b e o n e o f s e ve ra l d e s i g n s , wh ich we ' l l g o i n to f u rth e r d o wn th e p a g e , b u t a l l th e d e s i g n s e s s e n ti a l ly m o ve th e tra ck ro d l e f t- to - ri g h t a cro s s th e ca r. T h e ti e ro d s co n n e ct to th e e n d s o f th e tra ck ro d with b a l l a n d s o ck e t jo i n ts , a n d th e n to th e e n d s o f th e s te e ri n g a rm s , a ls o wi th b a l l a n d s o ck e t jo i n ts . T h e p u rp o s e o f th e ti e ro d s i s to a ll o w s u s p e n s i o n m o ve m e n t a s we ll a s a n e l e m e n t o f a d ju s ta b i l i ty i n th e s te e rin g g e o m e try. T h e ti e ro d le n g th s ca n n o rm a l l y b e ch a n g e d to a ch i e ve th e s e d i f f e re n t g e o m e tri e s .

The Ackermann Angle : your wheels don't point the same direction.
I n th e s i m p l e s t f o rm o f s te e ri n g , b o th th e f ro n t wh e e l s a l wa ys p o i n t i n th e s a m e d ire ctio n . Y o u tu rn th e wh e e l , th e y b o th p o i n t th e s a m e wa y a n d a ro u n d th e co rn e r yo u g o . Ex ce p t th a t b y d o i n g th i s , yo u e n d u p wi th tyre s s cru b b i n g , lo s s o f g ri p a n d a ve h i cl e th a t ' cra b s ' a ro u n d th e co rn e r. So wh y i s th i s ? W e l l , i t' s th e s a m e th i n g yo u n e e d to ta k e i n to co n s i d e ra ti o n wh e n l o o k i n g a t tra n s m i s s i o n s . W h e n a ca r g o e s a ro u n d a co rn e r, th e o u ts i d e wh e e l s tra ve l f u rth e r th a n th e i n s i d e wh e e l s . I n th e ca s e o f a tra n s m i s s io n , i t' s wh y yo u n e e d a d i f f e re n ti a l ( s e e th e T ra n s m i s s io n Bi b l e ) , b u t i n th e ca s e o f s te e ri n g , i t' s wh y yo u n e e d th e f ro n t wh e e l s to a ctu a l ly p o i n t in d if f e re n t d i re cti o n s . O n th e l e f t i s th e d i a g ra m f ro m th e T ra n s m is s i o n Bib l e . Y o u ca n s e e th e i n s i d e wh e e l s tra ve l a ro u n d a ci rcl e with a s m a ll e r ra d iu s ( r2 ) th a n th e o u ts i d e wh e e l s ( r1 ) .

Chris - www.carbibles.com

I n o rd e r f o r th a t to h a p p e n wi th o u t ca u s in g u n d u e s tre s s to th e f ro n t wh e e l s a n d tyre s , th e y m u s t p o in t a t s l i g h tl y d i f f e re n t a n g le s to th e ce n tre li n e o f th e ca r. T h e d i a g ra m to th e le f t s h o ws th e s a m e th in g

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Car Bibles: The car steering bible.

http://www.carbibles.com/steering_bible.html

o n l y z o o m e d i n to s h o w th e re l a ti ve a n g le s o f th e tyre s to th e ca r. I t' s a l l to d o with th e g e o m e try o f ci rcl e s . T h i s d i f f e re n ce o f a n g l e i s a ch i e ve d with a re l a ti ve l y s i m p l e a rra n g e m e n t o f s te e rin g co m p o n e n ts to cre a te a tra p e z o i d g e o m e try ( a p a ra l l e lo g ra m with o n e o f th e p a ra ll e l s i d e s s h o rte r th a n th e o th e r) . O n ce th i s i s a ch i e ve d , th e wh e e l s p o i n t a t d i f f e re n t a n g l e s a s th e s te e rin g g e o m e try i s m o ve d . M o s t ve h i cl e s n o w d o n ' t u s e ' p u re ' A ck e rm a n n s te e ri n g g e o m e try b e ca u s e it d o e s n ' t ta k e s o m e o f th e d yn a m i c a n d co m p l i a n t e f f e cts o f s te e ri n g a n d s u s p e n s i o n in to a cco u n t, b u t s o m e d e riva tive o f th i s is u s e d in a l m o s t a l l s te e ri n g s ys te m s ( ri g h t) .

Why 'Ackermann'?
T h i s p a rti cu l a r te ch n o l o g y wa s f i rs t i n tro d u ce d i n 1 7 5 8 b y Era s m u s D a rwin , f a th e r o f C h a rle s D a rwin , i n a p a p e r e n ti tl e d " Eras m us D arwi n' s i m proved des i gn f or s teeri ng carriages - - and cars " . I t wa s n e ve r p a te n te d th o u g h u n ti l 1 8 1 7 wh e n R u d o l p h Ack e rm a n n p a te n te d i t i n L o n d o n , a n d th a t' s th e n a m e th a t s tu ck .

Steering ratios
Eve ry ve h i cl e h a s a s te e ri n g ra ti o i n h e re n t i n th e d e s i g n . I f i t d i d n ' t yo u ' d n e ve r b e a b l e to tu rn th e wh e e l s . Ste e ri n g ra ti o g i ve s m e ch a n i ca l a d va n ta g e to th e d ri ve r, a l lo wi n g yo u to tu rn th e tyre s with th e we i g h t o f th e wh o l e ca r s i tti n g o n th e m , b u t m o re i m p o rta n tl y, i t m e a n s yo u d o n ' t h a ve to tu rn th e s te e ri n g wh e e l a ri d i cu l o u s n u m b e r o f ti m e s to g e t th e wh e e l s to m o ve . Ste e ri n g ra ti o is th e ra ti o o f th e n u m b e r o f d e g re e s tu rn e d a t th e s te e ri n g wh e e l vs . th e n u m b e r o f d e g re e s th e f ro n t wh e e ls a re d e f l e cte d . So f o r e x a m p l e , i f yo u tu rn th e s te e ri n g wh e e l 2 0 a n d th e f ro n t wh e e l s o n l y tu rn 1 , th a t g ive s a s te e ri n g ra ti o o f 2 0 : 1 . F o r m o s t m o d e rn ca rs , th e s te e ri n g ra ti o is b e twe e n 1 2 : 1 a n d 2 0 : 1 . T h i s , co u p l e d wi th th e m a x i m u m a n g l e o f d e f l e cti o n o f th e wh e e l s g ive s th e l o ck - to - lo ck tu rn s f o r th e s te e rin g wh e e l . F o r e x a m p l e , i f a ca r h a s a s te e ri n g ra ti o o f 1 8 : 1 a n d th e f ro n t wh e e l s h a ve a m a x i m u m d e f l e cti o n o f 2 5 , th e n a t 2 5 , th e s te e ri n g wh e e l h a s tu rn e d 2 5 x 1 8 , wh i ch i s 4 5 0 . T h a t' s o n ly to o n e s i d e , s o th e e n ti re s te e ri n g g o e s f ro m - 2 5 to p l u s 2 5 g i vi n g a lo ck - to - l o ck a n g l e a t th e s te e rin g wh e e l o f 9 0 0 , o r 2 . 5 tu rn s ( 9 0 0 / 3 6 0 ) . T h i s wo rk s th e o th e r wa y a ro u n d to o o f co u rs e . I f yo u k n o w th e l o ck - to - l o ck tu rn s a n d th e s te e rin g ra ti o , yo u ca n f i g u re o u t th e wh e e l d e f l e cti o n . F o r e x a m p l e i f a ca r i s a d ve rti s e d a s h a vin g a 1 6 : 1 s te e rin g ra ti o a n d 3 tu rn s l o ck - to - l o ck , th e n th e s te e ri n g wh e e l ca n tu rn 1 . 5 x 3 6 0 ( 5 4 0 ) e a ch wa y. At a ra ti o o f 1 6 : 1 th a t m e a n s th e f ro n t wh e e l s d e f l e ct b y 3 3 . 7 5 e a ch wa y. F o r ra ci n g ca rs , th e s te e ri n g ra ti o i s n o rm a l ly m u ch s m a l l e r th a n f o r p a s s e n g e r ca rs - ie . clo s e r to 1 : 1 a s th e ra ci n g d ri ve rs n e e d to g e t f u l l e r d e f le ctio n in to th e s te e ri n g a s q u i ck l y a s p o s s i b l e .

Turning circles
T h e tu rn i n g ci rcl e o f a ca r i s th e d i a m e te r o f th e circle d e s cri b e d b y th e o u ts i d e wh e e l s wh e n tu rn i n g o n f u l l l o ck . T h e re i s n o h a rd a n d f a s t f o ru m l a to ca l cu l a te th e tu rn i n g ci rcl e b u t yo u ca n g e t clo s e b y u s i n g th i s : tu rn i n g ci rcl e ra d i u s = ( tra ck / 2 ) + ( wh e e l b a s e / s in ( a ve ra g e s te e r a n g le ) ) T h e n u m b e rs re q u i re d to ca l cu l a te th e tu rn i n g ci rcle e x p l a i n wh y a cl a s s i c b l a ck L o n d o n ta x i h a s a ti n y 8 m tu rn i n g ci rcl e to a l l o w i t to d o U - tu rn s i n th e n a rro w L o n d o n s tre e ts . I n th i s ca s e , th e wh e e lb a s e a n d tra ck a re n ' t ra d i ca l l y d i f f e re n t to a n y o th e r ca r, b u t th e a ve ra g e s te e rin g a n g le i s h u g e . Fo r co m p a ri s o n , a typ i ca l p a s s e n g e r ca r tu rn i n g ci rcl e i s n o rm a ll y b e twe e n 1 1 m a n d 1 3 m wi th SU V tu rn i n g ci rcl e s g o i n g o u t a s m u ch a s 1 5 m to 1 7 m .
L ike t he sit e? T h e p a g e y o u ' r e r e a d i n g i s fr e e , b u t i f y o u l i k e wh a t y o u s e e a n d fe e l y o u ' v e l e a r n e d s o m e t h i n g , a s m a l l d o n a t i o n wo u l d b e a p p r e c i a t e d t o h e l p m e p a y m y s e r v e r s p a c e . T h a n k y o u .

Steering System designs : Pitman arm types

T h e re re a l l y a re o n l y two b a s i c ca te g o ri e s o f s te e rin g s ys te m to d a y; th o s e th a t h a ve p i tm a n a rm s wi th a s te e ri n g ' b o x ' a n d th o s e th a t d o n ' t. O l d e r ca rs a n d s o m e cu rre n t tru ck s u s e p i tm a n a rm s , s o f o r th e s a k e o f co m p l e te n e s s , I ' ve d o cu m e n te d s o m e co m m o n typ e s . Ne we r ca rs a n d u n ib o d y l i g h t- d u ty tru ck s typ ica ll y a l l u s e s o m e d e ri va ti ve o f ra ck a n d p i n i o n s te e ri n g . P i tm a n a rm m e ch a n i s m s h a ve a s te e ri n g ' b o x ' wh e re th e s h a f t f ro m th e s te e ri n g wh e e l co m e s i n a n d a le ve r a rm co m e s o u t - th e p i tm a n a rm . T h i s p i tm a n a rm i s l i n k e d to th e tra ck ro d o r ce n tre l i n k , wh i ch is s u p p o rte d b y id l e r a rm s . T h e ti e ro d s co n n e ct to th e tra ck ro d . T h e re a re a l a rg e n u m b e r o f va ri a ti o n s o f th e a ctu a l m e ch a n i ca l l in k a g e f ro m d ire ct- li n k wh e re th e p i tm a n a rm i s co n n e cte d d ire ctly to th e tra ck ro d , to co m p o u n d li n k a g e s wh e re i t i s co n n e cte d to o n e e n d o f th e s te e rin g s ys te m o r th e tra ck ro d vi a o th e r ro d s . T h e e x a m p l e h e re s h o ws a co m p o u n d li n k ( le f t) . M o s t o f th e s te e rin g b o x m e ch a n is m s th a t d ri ve th e p itm a n a rm h a ve a ' d e a d s p o t' i n th e ce n tre o f th e s te e ri n g wh e re yo u ca n tu rn th e s te e ri n g wh e e l a s li g h t a m o u n t b e f o re th e f ro n t wh e e l s s ta rt to tu rn . T h i s s l a ck ca n n o rm a ll y b e a d ju s te d wi th a s cre w m e ch a n is m b u t i t ca n ' t e ve r b e e l i m i n a te d . T h e tra d i ti o n a l a d va n ta g e o f th e s e s ys te m s is th a t th e y g i ve b i g g e r m e ch a n i ca l a d va n ta g e a n d th u s wo rk we l l o n h e a vi e r ve h i cl e s . W i th th e a d ve n t o f p o we r s te e rin g , th a t h a s b e co m e a m o o t p o i n t a n d th e s te e ri n g s ys te m d e s i g n i s n o w m o re to d o with m e ch a n i ca l d e s ig n , p rice a n d we ig h t. T h e f o ll o wi n g a re th e f o u r b a s i c typ e s o f s te e ri n g b o x u s e d i n p i tm a n a rm s ys te m s .

Worm and sector

I n th i s typ e o f s te e rin g b o x , th e e n d o f th e s h a f t f ro m th e s te e rin g wh e e l h a s a wo rm g e a r a tta ch e d to i t. I t m e s h e s d i re ctl y wi th a s e cto r g e a r ( s o ca l l e d b e ca u s e i t' s a s e cti o n o f a f u l l g e a r wh e e l ) . W h e n th e s te e ri n g wh e e l i s tu rn e d , th e s h a f t tu rn s th e wo rm g e a r, a n d th e s e cto r g e a r p i vo ts a ro u n d i ts a x i s a s its

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Car Bibles: The car steering bible.

http://www.carbibles.com/steering_bible.html
te e th a re m o ve d a lo n g th e wo rm g e a r. T h e s e cto r g e a r is m o u n te d o n th e cro s s s h a f t wh i ch p a s s e s th ro u g h th e s te e rin g b o x a n d o u t th e b o tto m wh e re it is s p l i n e d , a n d th e th e p itm a n a rm i s a tta ch e d to th e s p l i n e s . W h e n th e s e cto r g e a r tu rn s , i t tu rn s th e cro s s s h a f t, wh ich tu rn s th e p i tm a n a rm , g i vin g th e o u tp u t m o ti o n th a t i s f e d in to th e m e ch a n ica l l in k a g e o n th e tra ck ro d . T h e f o l l o wi n g d i a g ra m s h o ws th e a cti ve co m p o n e n ts th a t a re p re s e n t in s id e th e wo rm a n d s e cto r s te e ri n g b o x . T h e b o x i ts e l f i s s e a l e d a n d f il l e d wi th g re a s e .

Worm and roller

T h e wo rm a n d ro l le r s te e rin g b o x i s s i m i la r in d e s i g n to th e wo rm a n d s e cto r b o x . T h e d i f f e re n ce h e re i s th a t i n s te a d o f h a vin g a s e cto r g e a r th a t m e s h e s wi th th e wo rm g e a r, th e re i s a ro l le r i n s te a d . T h e ro l le r i s m o u n te d o n a ro ll e r b e a ri n g s h a f t a n d i s h e l d ca p ti ve o n th e e n d o f th e cro s s s h a f t. As th e wo rm g e a r tu rn s , th e ro l le r i s f o rce d to m o ve a l o n g i t b u t b e ca u s e i t i s h e l d ca p tive o n th e cro s s s h a f t, i t twi s ts th e cro s s s h a f t. T yp i ca l ly i n th e s e d e s ig n s , th e wo rm g e a r i s a ctu a ll y a n h o u rg l a s s s h a p e s o th a t it is wid e r a t th e e n d s . W i th o u t th e h o u rg l a s s s h a p e , th e ro l le r m i g h t d i s e n g a g e f ro m i t a t th e e x te n ts o f i ts tra ve l .

Worm and nut or recirculating ball

T h i s i s b y f a r th e m o s t co m m o n typ e o f s te e ri n g b o x f o r p itm a n a rm s ys te m s . I n a re ci rcu l a ti n g b a ll s te e rin g b o x , th e wo rm d ri ve h a s m a n y m o re tu rn s o n it wi th a f i n e r p i tch . A b o x o r n u t i s cla m p e d o ve r th e wo rm d ri ve th a t co n ta i n s d o z e n s o f b a l l b e a ri n g s . T h e s e l o o p a ro u n d th e wo rm d rive a n d th e n o u t in to a re ci rcu l a ti n g ch a n n e l wi th in th e n u t wh e re th e y a re f e d b a ck i n to th e wo rm d ri ve a g a i n . H e n ce re ci rcu l a ti n g . As th e s te e rin g wh e e l i s tu rn e d , th e wo rm d ri ve tu rn s a n d f o rce s th e b a l l b e a ri n g s to p re s s a g a i n s t th e ch a n n e l in s i d e th e n u t. T h i s f o rce s th e n u t to m o ve a l o n g th e wo rm d rive . T h e n u t i ts e lf h a s a co u p l e o f g e a r te e th ca s t i n to th e o u ts i d e o f i t a n d th e s e m e s h with th e te e th o n a s e cto r g e a r wh i ch i s a tta ch e d to th e cro s s s h a f t ju s t li k e in th e wo rm a n d s e cto r m e ch a n i s m . T h i s s ys te m h a s m u ch le s s f re e p l a y o r s l a ck i n i t th a n th e o th e r d e s i g n s , h e n ce wh y i t' s u s e d th e m o s t. T h e e x a m p le b e l o w s h o ws a re ci rcu l a ti n g b a l l m e ch a n i s m with th e n u t s h o wn i n cu ta wa y s o yo u ca n s e e th e b a ll b e a ri n g s a n d th e re ci rcu l a ti o n ch a n n e l .

Cam and lever

C a m a n d l e ve r s te e rin g b o x e s a re ve ry s i m i l a r to wo rm a n d s e cto r s te e ri n g b o x e s . T h e wo rm d ri ve is k n o wn a s a ca m a n d h a s a m u ch s h a l lo we r p itch a n d th e s e cto r g e a r is re p l a ce d wi th two s tu d s th a t s i t in th e ca m ch a n n e l s . As th e wo rm g e a r i s tu rn e d , th e s tu d s s li d e a lo n g th e ca m ch a n n e ls wh ich f o rce s th e cro s s s h a f t to ro ta te , tu rn in g th e p itm a n a rm . O n e o f th e d e s i g n f e a tu re s o f th i s s tyl e i s th a t it tu rn s th e cro s s s h a f t 9 0 to th e n o rm a l s o i t e x i ts th ro u g h th e s i d e o f th e s te e ri n g b o x i n s te a d o f th e b o tto m . T h i s ca n re s u l t i n a ve ry co m p a ct d e s i g n wh e n n e ce s s a ry.

Steering System designs : Rack and pinion

T h i s i s b y f a r th e m o s t co m m o n typ e o f s te e rin g yo u ' l l f i n d i n a n y ca r to d a y d u e to i t' s re l a ti ve s i m p l i ci ty a n d l o w co s t. R a ck a n d p i n io n s ys te m s g i ve a m u ch b e tte r f e e l f o r th e d ri ve r, a n d th e re i s n ' t th e s l o p o r s l a ck a s s o ci a te d wi th s te e rin g b o x p i tm a n a rm typ e s ys te m s . T h e d o wn s i d e i s th a t u n l i k e th o s e s ys te m s , ra ck a n d p i n i o n d e s ig n s h a ve n o a d ju s ta b i l i ty i n th e m , s o o n ce th e y we a r b e yo n d a ce rta i n m e ch a n i ca l to l e ra n ce , th e y n e e d re p l a ci n g co m p l e te l y. T h i s i s ra re th o u g h . I n a ra ck a n d p i n i o n s ys te m , th e tra ck ro d i s re p l a ce d wi th th e s te e ri n g ra ck wh i ch i s a lo n g , to o th e d b a r with th e ti e ro d s a tta ch e d to e a ch e n d . O n th e e n d o f th e s te e ri n g s h a f t th e re i s a s i m p l e p in io n g e a r th a t m e s h e s with th e ra ck . W h e n yo u tu rn th e s te e ri n g wh e e l , th e p i n i o n g e a r tu rn s , a n d m o ve s th e ra ck f ro m le f t to ri g h t. C h a n g i n g th e s i z e o f th e p i n i o n g e a r a l te rs th e s te e ri n g ra ti o . I t re a ll y i s th a t s i m p l e . T h e d i a g ra m s h e re s h o w a n e x a m p le ra ck a n d p i n i o n s ys te m ( l e f t) a s we l l a s a cl o s e - u p cu ta wa y o f th e s te e rin g ra ck i ts e l f ( rig h t) .

Variable-ratio rack and pinion steering

T h i s i s a s i m p l e va ri a ti o n o n th e a b o ve d e s ig n . Al l th e co m p o n e n ts a re th e s a m e , a n d it a l l wo rk s th e s a m e e x ce p t th a t th e s p a ci n g o f th e te e th o n th e ra ck va ri e s d e p e n d in g o n h o w cl o s e to th e ce n tre o f th e ra ck th e y a re . I n th e m i d d l e , th e te e th a re s p a ce d clo s e to g e th e r to g i ve s l ig h t s te e ri n g f o r th e f i rs t p a rt o f th e tu rn - g o o d f o r n o t o ve rs te e ri n g a t s p e e d . As th e te e th g e t f u rth e r a wa y f ro m th e ce n tre , th e y i n cre a s e i n s p a ci n g s l i g h tl y s o th a t th e wh e e l s tu rn m o re f o r th e s a m e tu rn o f th e s te e rin g wh e e l to wa rd s f u l l l o ck . Si m p l e .

Vehicle dynamics and steering - how it can all go very wrong

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Car Bibles: The car steering bible.

http://www.carbibles.com/steering_bible.html

Ge n e ra l l y s p e a k i n g , wh e n yo u tu rn th e s te e ri n g wh e e l i n yo u r ca r, yo u typ i ca l l y e x p e ct i t to g o wh e re yo u ' re p o i n ti n g i t. At s l o w s p e e d , th i s wi l l a lm o s t a lwa ys b e th e ca s e b u t o n ce yo u g e t s o m e m o m e n tu m b e h i n d yo u , yo u a re a t th e m e rcy o f th e ch a s s i s a n d s u s p e n s i o n d e s ig n e rs . I n ra ci n g , th e a e ro d yn a m i c wi n g s , a i r s p l i tte rs a n d u n d e rtra ys h e l p to m a i n ta i n a n e ve n b a l a n ce o f th e ve h icl e i n co rn e rs a lo n g with th e p o s i ti o n o f th e we i g h t i n th e ve h i cl e a n d th e s u p e n s i o n s e tu p . T h e two m o s t co m m o n p ro b l e m s yo u ' l l ru n i n to a re u n d e rs te e r a n d o ve rs te e r.

Understeer
U n d e rs te e r i s s o ca ll e d b e ca u s e th e ca r s te e rs l e s s th a n yo u wa n t i t to . U n d e rs te e r ca n b e b ro u g h t o n b y a l l m a n n e r o f ch a s s i s , s u s p e n s i o n a n d s p e e d i s s u e s b u t e s s e n ti a l ly i t m e a n s th a t th e ca r is l o s in g g rip o n th e f ro n t wh e e ls . T yp i ca l l y i t h a p p e n s a s yo u b ra k e a n d th e we i g h t i s tra n s f e rre d to th e f ro n t o f th e ca r. At th i s p o i n t th e m e ch a n ica l g ri p o f th e f ro n t tyre s ca n s i m p l y b e o ve rp o we re d a n d th e y s ta rt to l o s e g ri p ( f o r e x a m p le o n a we t o r g re a s y ro a d s u rf a ce ) . T h e e n d re s u lt i s th a t th e ca r wi ll s ta rt to ta k e th e co rn e r ve ry wi d e . I n ra ci n g , th a t n o rm a l ly i n vo l ve s g o i n g o f f th e o u ts i d e o f th e co rn e r i n to a ca tch a re a o r o n to th e g ra s s . I n n o rm a l yo u - a n d - m e d rivin g , it m e a n s cra s h i n g a t th e o u ts i d e o f th e co rn e r. G e tti n g o u t o f u n d e rs te e r ca n i n vo l ve l e ttin g o f f th e th ro ttl e i n f ro n t- wh e e l - d rive ve h i cle s ( to try to g ive th e tyre s ch a n ce to g ri p ) o r g e tti n g o n th e th ro ttl e i n re a r- wh e e l - d ri ve ve h icl e s ( to try to b ri n g th e b a ck e n d a ro u n d ) . I t' s a co m p l e x to p i c m o re s u i te d to ra ci n g d ri vi n g f o ru m s b u t s u f f i ce to s a y th a t i f yo u ' re tryi n g to g e t o u t o f u n d e rs te e r a n d yo u co ck i t u p , yo u g e t. . . . .

Oversteer
T h e b ri g h t o n e s a m o n g s t yo u wi ll p ro b a b l y a l re a d y h a ve g u e s s e d th a t o ve rs te e r i s th e o p p o s i te o f u n d e rs te e r. W ith o ve rs te e r, th e ca r g o e s wh e re i t' s p o i n te d f a r to o e f f i ci e n tl y a n d yo u e n d u p d ivi n g in to th e co rn e r m u ch m o re q u i ck l y th a n yo u h a d e x p e cte d . O ve rs te e r i s b ro u g h t o n b y th e ca r l o s i n g g rip o n th e rear wh e e l s a s th e we i g h t is tra n s f e rre d o f f th e m u n d e r b ra k in g , re s u l tin g in th e re a r k i ck i n g o u t in th e co rn e r. W i th o u t co u n te r- s te e ri n g ( s e e b e lo w) th e e n d re s u l t i n ra ci n g i s th a t th e ca r wil l s p in a n d e n d u p g o in g o f f th e in s i d e o f th e co rn e r b a ck wa rd s . I n n o rm a l yo u - a n d - m e d ri vin g , it m e a n s s p i n n i n g th e ca r a n d e n d i n g u p p o i n ti n g b a ck th e wa y yo u ca m e .

Counter-steering
C o u n te r- s te e ri n g is wh a t yo u n e e d to d o wh e n yo u s ta rt to e x p e ri e n ce o ve rs te e r. I f yo u g e t in to a s i tu a tio n wh e re th e b a ck e n d o f th e ca r l o s e s g ri p a n d s ta rts to s win g o u t, s te e ri n g o p p o s i te to th e d ire cti o n o f th e co rn e r ca n o f te n ' ca tch ' th e o ve rs te e r b y d i re ctin g th e n o s e o f th e ca r o u t o f th e co rn e r. I n d ri f t ra ci n g a n d d e m o n s tra ti o n d ri vi n g , it' s h o w th e d rive rs a re a b l e to s m o k e th e re a r tyre s a n d p o we r- s li d e a ro u n d a co rn e r. T h e y wi ll u s e a co m b i n a ti o n o f th ro ttl e , we i g h t tra n s f e r a n d h a n d b ra k e to i n d u ce o ve rs te e r in to a co rn e r, th e n f l i ck th e s te e ri n g th e o p p o s i te d i rctio n , h o n k o n th e a cce l e ra to r a n d try to h o l d a s l i d e a l l th e wa y a ro u n d th e co rn e r. I t' s a l s o a wi d e l y- u s e d te ch n iq u e in ra l l y ra ci n g . T i f f Ne e d e l l - a ra cin g d ri ve r wh o a ls o wo rk s o n s o m e U K m o to ri n g p ro g ra m s - i s a n a b s o l u te m a s te r a t co u n te r- s te e r p o we r s li d i n g .

Topics still to come...

Hydraulic and electronic power steering Speed-sensitive power steering 4-wheel steering - passive and active Drive-by-wire steering Tilt / slide steering wheels and collapsible steering columns
These pages were last updated on 7 March 2011. Copyright Chris Longhurst 1994 - 2011 unless otherwise noted. Important Copyright info.
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