STEERING GEOMETRY

STEERING GEOMETRY
The term "steering geometry" (also known as "front-end
geometry") refers to the angular Relationship between suspension
and steering parts, front wheels, and the road surface. Because
alignment deals with angles and affects steering, the method of
describing alignment measurements is called steering geometry.

There are five steering geometry angles :

 Camber
 Caster
 king pin inclination
 Toe in & Toe-out on turns
 Camber:-
 Camber angle is the angle between
the vertical line and centre line of the
tyre when viewed from the front of the
vehicle.
 Camber angle is positive when this
is outward. This happens when wheels
are further apart at top than at bottom.
On the contrary, camber angle is
negative when angle is inward. This
happens when wheels are further apart
at bottom than at top.
 The camber, should not be more
than 2 degree, because this causes
uneven or more tyre wear on one side
than on other side.
Caster:-
Caster angle is the
tilt of king pin centre
line towards front of
back from the vertical
line.

It is the angle

between the vertical
line and king pin
centre line in the wheel
plane when looked
from side.
 King pin inclination
 It is the angle between king pin centre
line and vertical line when seen from the
front of the vehicle.
 It is also called steering axle inclination.
 King pin inclination and caster are used
to improve directional stability in cars.
 This is also used to reduce steering
effort when steering a stationary
 it reduces tyre wear.
 This inclination varies from 4 to 8
degree in modern cars.
 TOE IN & TOE OUT
 In automotive engineering, toe also known as tracking.

  This can be contrasted with steer, which is the anti

symmetric angle, i.e. both wheels point to the left or right, in
parallel (roughly).

  Positive toe, or toe in, is the front of the wheel pointing in

towards the centerline of the vehicle

 Negative toe, or toe out, is the front of the wheel pointing

away from the centerline of the vehicle.
 ACKERMANN STEERING GEOMETRY
 Ackermann steering geometry is a geometric arrangement of linkages in the
steering of a car or other vehicle designed to solve the problem of wheels on
the inside and outside of a turn needing to trace out circles of different radii.

 Modern cars do not use pure Ackermann steering partly because it ignores
important dynamic and compliant effects.

 The use of such geometry helps reduce tyre temperatures during high-speed
cornering but compromises performance in low speed maneuvers.

 The intention of Ackermann geometry is to avoid the need for tyre to slip
sideways when following the path around a curve.

 As the rear wheels are fixed, this centre point must be on a line extended from
the rear axle.

 Intersecting the axes of the front wheels on this line as well requires that the
inside front wheel is turned, when steering, through a greater angle than the
outside wheel .
Ackerman – Truck Steering System
Straight ahead

Right turn

Left turn
Car Steering Systems
Rack and pinion

Steering arm

Rack Gearbox

Tire rod
Tire rod
Gearbox

Steering arm
Pitman arm
Idler arm Relay link
Truck Steering Systems

Tire rod
Steering arm

Gearbox
Pitman arm
Drag link