By Tommy I
Submitted 2012-01-30 18:12:20
Number Of Times Read: 25
Slip sliding away. That is what most automobile drivers would be doing if it were not for their vehicle’s steering and steering mechanisms. Yet few drivers and motorists comprehend or have the slightest inclination of how their car is pointed or steered down the roadway predictably, safely and at a good clip of speed. Steering systems were created to allow 100 lb (45 kg) people to control 4,000 lb (1800 kilogram) vehicles quickly, accurately and without undue strenuous effort and efforts. This is all accomplished via a series of components that lead from the steering wheel to the front wheels of your car or truck.
Because the steering wheel is essentially a small lever (the radius of the average steering wheel is only 7 inches in length), the driver needs what is referred to in the science of physics as “mechanical advantage” to overcome the inertia of the car’s weight and the friction between the tires and the roadway. This advantage is provided by the “steering ratio” – that is the number of 360 degree turns of the steering wheel that are required to swivel the front wheels from lock to lock (all the way from left to right – usually 60 degrees) In this specific detailed case the steering ratio is therefore 900:60 translated down to 15:1 for ease of description and explanation. Overall in mechanical terms a ratio at the low end of the scale allow to a driver or motorist to respond more quickly to the wheel in an emergency type situation , but generally such a safety maneuver requires more overall power to the steering wheel in the car or truck cab operate than a higher ratio will do.
The basic makeup and setup of the steering system is that what is called the “steering shaft” runs inside a tube like steering column setup, through the metal protective “fire wall”, which provides a safety barrier between your engine compartment and the passenger areas, straight into the steering gearbox which lies inside the engine compartment. Unlike older pre safety concern auto models, modern steering shaft are designed to collapse on impact to protect the driver from impalement on the steering wheel which auto safety engineers will point out was not uncommon years ago before modern auto safety standards were implemented by major auto manufactures.
The “steering gearbox” that converts the rotational motion of the steering wheel into the side to side motion of the wheels. These gears reduce the large movements of the steering wheel to the small movements of the front wheels, giving the motorist the necessary mechanical advantage and advantages.
The “steering linkage” consists of a series of rods across the front of the car to connect the front wheels to each other and to the steering gearbox. In the parallelogram linkage used on most North American and American import vehicles , the ”Pitman” arm extends from the steering gearbox and transmits gear movements to the left end of a track rod, which then runs across the car. An “idler arm”, parallel to the Pitman arm, is attached to support the right end of the track rod. What the service tech writer at your local auto dealership will explain to you is that – mechanical “Tie rods’ connect the track rod to steering arms in the steering system, which will then work to transmit movements to the what are neatly referred to in the automotive repair trade as “steering knuckles” which then server in this Rube Goldberg arrange to thus pivot the wheels. It may all sound rather complex but actually it is not. Steering mechanisms though appearing complex actually work quite well, easily and are entirely safe as well as predictable and safe in their actions and functions. What your mechanic refers to as “Ball joints” these serve as a link between the tie rods and their associated steering arms allowing full steering control to be easily and safely transmitted for action by the wheels and steering mechanisms even as travel down the road while the suspension is moving up and down even on the bumpiest roads and highways.
Over the years and history of the development of automobiles many innovators and unsung heroes contributed to the development and modern developments of our car and truck’s steering systems. No doubt you should be grateful because other wise you would be slid sliding away on your travels and errands.
Author Resource:-
Terry I Vestore Eagle Ridge GM One of the Lower Mainland's Top Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC Truck Dealerships Sales & Service http://www.eagleridgegm.com/ British Columbia Truck Traders http://is.gd/hUBQb GMC Terrain Vancouver Coquitlam BC http://is.gd/hUBYy
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Submitted 2012-01-30 18:12:20
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