Muhoja Assignment
Muhoja Assignment
Muhoja Assignment
COURSE: HDAE II
REG.NO: NIT/BAE/2015/281
6/9
In this simplified drawing of a recirculating-ball steering system you can see how the rotational
energy of the steering column is turned into the linear movement of the pitman arm. – Drawing
by Kris Horton.
7/9
Here are the common steering parts used with a recirculating-ball steering gearbox-based system.
The number of parts is one reason this system is heavier than a rack-and-pinion steering system.
However, it is also stronger. You can also see that there are more wear points compared to a
rack-and-pinion steering system. Note that this diagram does not even include the gearbox.
8/9
Here you can see how a power rack-and-pinion system works internally. Turning the steering
wheel activates a rotary valve and sends high-pressure fluid to the appropriate side of the piston
to assist in turning. – Drawing by Kris Horton.
9/9
Behold the simplicity of the rack-and-pinion system. While not as sturdy as a traditional steering
system, it is light and responsive. In this configuration there are four wear points. This picture is
of a manual rack, whereas a power-assisted rack would have fittings for the fluid lines. When
retrofitting this into an older car you must be careful to end up with proper steering geometry.
The Bottom Line
According to Tristan Statler at Unisteer, “In general, when considering the option of a steering
box versus a rack-and-pinion, one must always remember that either system will only perform as
well as it is designed and built for its particular application. A poorly designed steering box setup
may not function as well as a rack-and-pinion setup, and vice versa.” You need to think about
how you plan on using your car. If your car will never see the track, then you might not need to
run a power steering cooler or have to worry about using the older soldered pumps. If you plan
on serious track time, then a company like AGR should be able to set you up with some higher-
end “race grade” steering parts, which is their specialty.
Whichever way you go, it is important that you ask the right questions of the various vendors and
explain to them how you will be using your car. Through proper parts selection you will end up
with a steering system that will make your ride much nicer to drive.
REFERENCES
1. http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/chassis-suspension/1505-steering-systems-101-rack-
and-pinion-vs-recirculating-ball/