Auto Parts and Your Auto: Your Steering

Like starting your car, you probably don’t think much about what happens when you steer it. You are probably thinking more about how to get through the process of driving somewhere in one piece. However, much goes on with your steering, and you should be aware of how it works so you can keep it in tip top condition.

How Your Steering Works

Much has to happen as you turn the steering wheel to make your car turn. For one thing, it has to make sure your inside wheel turns at a sharper angle that the outside wheels. This is achieved by the steering linkage, but even more has to happen than this—the differences in how the steering actually operates depends on what kind of steering mechanism is used.

Rack and Pinion Steering

This is the most common type of steering mechanism, and consists of a tie rod and rack that connect to the tire wheel, and a pinion and steering shaft which connect to the steering wheel. Most simply put, it converts the turning of the steering wheel into tire movement by using a gear (pinion) that moves along the rack. The gear ratio between the amount of turn of the steering wheel versus the amount of turn of the tires can be high or lower. A higher ratio means more steering wheel turning but less effort; a lower ration means less turning and more effort. There are cars that have a new variable ration steering capability, which means that the ratio changes depending on the turn angle and stress of the turn.

Recirculated Ball Steering

Many of today’s larger passenger vehicles are equipped with this steering system. It is very similar to rack and pinion steering, but uses small ball bearings that help increase steering accuracy by eliminating the need for the pinion to lose contact with the rack when changing direction, and they also greatly reduce friction in the gear itself (which is of a slightly different design than in the strict rack and pinion system).

Although most auto enthusiasts used to work on their own steering mechanisms, it’s best to take today’s complicated cars to an auto shop to have the steering worked on. A mistake in your work could cost you more than money.