SERVICING VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEMS

UNIT CODE: ENG/CU/AUT/CR/5/5/A

Relationship to Occupational Standards
This unit addresses the unit of competency: Service Vehicle Steering System.

Unit Description:
This unit specifies competencies required to service vehicle steering system. It involves assess
vehicle steering system, remove steering components, assess serviceability of vehicle,
replace/service vehicle steering, fit and test vehicle steering components and document vehicle
steering system service

Summary of Learning Outcomes:

1. Assess vehicle steering system
2. Remove steering components
3. Assess serviceability of vehicle.
4. Replace/service vehicle steering.
5. Fit and test vehicle steering components.
6. Finalize vehicle steering system service

INTRODUCTION
Steering is the control of the direction of locomotion.

A conventional automotive steering arrangement allows a driver to: control the direction of the
vehicle by turning the direction of the front wheels using a hand–operated steering
wheel positioned in front of the driver.

The steering wheel is attached to a steering column, which is linked to rods, pivots and gears
that allow the driver to change the direction of the front wheels.

Other arrangements are sometimes found on different types of vehicles; for example, a tiller or
rear-wheel steering. Tracked vehicles such as bulldozers and tanks usually employ differential
steering, where the tracks are made to move at different speeds or even in opposite directions,
using the clutch and brakes, to achieve a change of direction.

 Ships and boats are usually steered with a rudder.

 Aircraft flight control systems are normally steered when airborne by the use
of ailerons, spoilerons, or both to bank the aircraft into a turn; although the rudder can also be
used to turn the aircraft.

FUN FACT: Some drivers purchase vinyl or textile steering wheel covers to enhance grip or
comfort, or simply as decoration.

CHARACTERISTICS/ PRINCIPLES OF A GOOD STEERING SYSTEM.

A good steering system must perform the following functions satisfactorily.

1. It provides wheels swinging to the left or right.

2. It provides vehicle turning as per the will of the driver.

3. It provides the directional stability.

4. It helps to control wear and tear of tires.

5. It should be easy to operate.

STEERING SYSTEM LAYOUT

COMMON STEERING SYSTEM COMPONENTS.

1. Steering wheel

 Steering wheels are used in most modern land vehicles, including all mass-
production automobiles, buses, light and heavy trucks, as well as tractors.
 The steering wheel is the part of the steering system that is manipulated by
the driver; the rest of the steering system responds to such driver inputs.
  This can be through direct mechanical contact as in recirculating ball or rack
and pinion steering gears, without or with the assistance of hydraulic power
steering, HPS, or as in some modern production cars with the assistance of
computer-controlled motors, known as electric power steering.

2. Steering column.

 This device, placed between the steering wheel and the rack, transmits the
rotational movement imparted by the driver to the rack.
 This movement allows the rack housing to actuate a steering bar in the right or
left translation for steering the wheels.
 It plays a crucial role in controlling the direction of the car and ensuring the
driver’s safety and comfort.

3. Steering box.
  The steering system transforms the steering wheel’s turning movement
into a rotation of the wheels, such that there is a short movement of the
wheels when the steering wheel rim is turned a longer distance.

 They also ensure that the inner front wheel, which must navigate a tighter arc
than the outer one, is more sharply inclined during turning.

 The rack-and-pinion and steering box are the most frequently used types of
steering systems in newer car models.

4. Pitman arm.

 A Pitman arm is a shaft that translates rotary or angular movement into linear
movement, or vice versa.
 In automotive or truck steering systems, the Pitman arm acts as
a linkage attached to the steering box
 it converts the angular motion of the sector shaft into the linear motion needed
to steer the wheels.
 The arm is supported by the sector shaft and supports the drag link or center
link with a ball joint.
 It transmits the motion it receives from the steering box into the drag (or center)
link, causing it to move left or right to turn the wheels in the appropriate
direction.
5. Idler arm

 An idler arm is a pivoting support for a conventional parallelogram steering

linkage on some cars and trucks
 The idler arm is attached between the opposite side of the center link from the
Pitman arm and the vehicle's frame to hold the center or drag link at the proper
height.
 Figure above: showing parallelogram steering system.

6. Tie rod ends.

 Tie rods are found on each front wheel and connect the steering gear to the
steering knuckle. Simply put, you cannot steer your car without tie rods.
 Serving as the pivot point between the steering rack, steering arm and
steering wheel, tie rods not only help move your wheels when you steer but
they make turning possible.

7. Rack and pinion

 A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises

circular gear (the pinion) engaging a linear gear (the rack).
 Together, they convert between rotational motion and linear motion.
 Rotating the pinion causes the rack to be driven in a line. Conversely, moving the
rack linearly will cause the pinion to rotate.
  A rack-and-pinion drive can use both straight and helical gears.

8. Steering linkage

 The steering linkage, which connects the steering gearbox to the front wheels,
consists of a number of rods.
 These rods are connected with a socket arrangement similar to a ball joint, called a
tie rod end, allowing the linkage to move back and forth freely so that the steering
effort will not interfere with the vehicles up-and-down motion as the wheel moves
over roads.
 The steering gears are attached to a rear rod which moves when the steering wheel
is turned

9. Steering knuckle

In automotive suspension, a steering knuckle or upright is that part which contains

the wheel hub or spindle, and attaches to the suspension and steering components.
 The terms spindle and hub are sometimes used interchangeably with steering knuckle,
but refer to different parts.

The wheel and tire assembly attach to the hub or spindle of the knuckle where the
tire/wheel rotates while being held in a stable plane of motion by the
knuckle/suspension assembly.

In the attached photograph of a double-wishbone suspension, the knuckle is shown

attached to the upper control arm at the top and the lower control arm at the bottom.
The wheel assembly is shown attached to the knuckle at its center point.

Note the arm of the knuckle that sticks out, to which the steering mechanism
attaches to turn the knuckle and wheel assembly.

10. Ball joints

In an automobile, ball joints are spherical bearings that connect the control arms to
the steering knuckles, and are used on virtually every automobile made.
They bionically resemble the ball-and-socket joints found in most tetrapod animals.
 A ball joint consists of a bearing stud and socket enclosed in a casing; all these parts are made
of steel.

The bearing stud is tapered and threaded, and fits into a tapered hole in the steering knuckle. A
protective encasing prevents dirt from getting into the joint assembly. Usually, this is a rubber-
like boot that allows movement and expansion of lubricant.

Motion-control ball joints tend to be retained with an internal spring, which helps to
prevent vibration problems in the linkage.

The "offset" ball joint provides means of movement in systems where thermal expansion and
contraction, shock, seismic motion, and torsional motions, and forces are present.

11. Steering dampers

The steering damper or steering stabilizer is a damping device designed to inhibit an

undesirable, uncontrolled movement or oscillation of a vehicle steering mechanism,
a phenomenon known in motorcycling as the death wobble.

Fun fact: Original tilt Steering wheel was developed by Edward James Lobdell in the early 1900s.