Steering system
A steering linkage is the part of an automotive steering system that connects to the
front wheels. Steering linkages consist of drag link (pitman arm), tie rod, ball joint,
end joint, arm assembly, torsion bar, steering shock absorber, bushes of steering
axis, steering arm and stub axle.
Regular Inspection of steering linkage is necessity to maintain safety and control of
the vehicle. If it is ignored, it may cause fatal accident.
Inspection of steering linkages
- Lift the front portion of the car/vehicle,
- Turn the steering from one end to another end, Check for noise and binding in-steer,
- If the binding is traced, Remove the drag link connection from steering gear box,
- Now rotate the steering gear box in both the direction and trace for the binding. If the binding is noticed then it probably lies in the steering gear box
- If the binding is not traced in steering gear box then problem is in steering linkage,
- Check the ball joint/bushes for free movement with thumb pressure and
- replace the same if necessary,
- Inspect the ball joint if it is worn out or bellow torned then replace it,
- Inspect the bushes of the torsion bar and replace it,
- Inspect the drag link, tie rod for its straightens,
- Remove the bushing by using special tools and replace the same.
- Inspect damper/strut for any crack, rust and also check its length if it is not with a specified value then replace it.
- Check the bushes for wear.
- Check the coil spring for its length, height and tension.
Precaution
1. Fix the spanner properly.
2. Keep the removed nut bolts properly.
3. Handle the pots carefully.
4. Support the chassis properly with stand.
Manual and Power Steering System
Manual Steering
Vehicle is steered with mechanical efforts and maintains and control road stability.
Different types of steering box are used in automobile vehicle.
- Worm and roller shaft
- Worm and nuts
- Rack and pinion
- Worm and sector
These all gear boxes are supported with power steering, which helps the driver to
increase his efforts in steering of vehicle.
Manual Steering: Mechanically/Manual operated steering
Procedure for servicing of the manual steering system (Worm and
roller shaft).
To check the working of mechanically/manually operated steering system,
following steps are followed.
1. Conduct the road test and mark the central or the mid position of the road
wheels and the steering gearbox.
2. Now raise the front portion of a car and turn the steering wheel.
3. To check for the binding in the steering.
4. If binding is traced then disconnect the drop arm from the cross shaft of the
steering gearbox.
5. Now again turn the steering and inspect for the binding.
6. If the binding is traced then the fault is in the steering gearbox, and need to
service the steering gear box.
7. Disconnect the electric connections from the steering wheel.
8. Now using specified spanner remove the steering wheel nut from the steering
shaft.
9. Use special tool to remove the steering wheel.
10. Remove the steering gear mounting bolts and dismount the steering gear
box from the chassis.
11. Clean the external portion of the steering box.
12. Remove the side cover from the steering gear box,
13. Now remove the cross shaft from the steering gear box casing,
14. Loosen the steering column bolts and remove it out,
15. Slowly remove the steering shaft from the casing,
16. Wash the components check their wear also check their alignment
17. Replace the worn out components,
18. Assemble the worm shaft and then the cross shaft with their bearing(s).
19. Conduct the road test and assure proper steering alignment.
Rack and pinion type steering gear box:
This type of steering gear is used for light vehicles and in power steering. It occupies
very small space and uses lesser number of linkage components as compare to
worm and wheel type of steering gear.
Servicing of the rack and pinion type steering gear box
1. Unthreaded the steering wheel nut using socket, ratchet. Separate the wheel
from steering shaft.
2. Unthreaded the steering rod’s guide nut.
3. Using screwdriver, the screw of gear lever bracket was unscrewed and
separates the gear lever bracket.
4. Separate the guide nut support plate and gear lever bracket.
5. To separate the steering shaft and gear shaft from steering column both nuts of
bracket were loosened.
6. Steering shaft’s lock nut and both was opened with the help of ring spanner and
double ended spanner. Separate pinion from steering shaft.
7. By removing the lock nut of gear rod from support plate, the rod was taken out.
8. Support plate was separated from gear box housing and end plate, using ring
spanner (9/16”)
9. End plate was taken out from steering gear box housing.
10. Loosened the wheel nuts and jacking up the vehicles. Take the front wheels out.
11. Unthreaded the tie rod end nut from both the sides and take out the rubber
boots from steering gear box housing.
12. Using pipe wrench, both the ball joints were taken out from steering rack.
13. Remove the U clamp bolt form the steering column by using socket spanner
and take out the steering assembly.
14. Using socket plier to remove the pinion assembly from the housing.
15. Now slowly push out the rack from the column.
16. Inspect the rack for bend and teeth’s for the wear; also inspect the pinion
assembly for wear.
17. Also check the pinion bearings, splines for the wear.
18. Thoroughly clean the components of steering.
19. Place the rack in the column and place the pinion in housing.
20. Lubricate rack and pinion with silicon grease.
21. Now assemble the rack and pinion assembly on the vehicle with help of
supporting bolts, tighten the same to specified torque.
22. Check the rack play adjustment and adjust the rack with the help of shims/nut.
23. Check the pinion play adjustment if noticed more/less adjust the spacer with
more/less length.
24. Place these.
25. Now slowly turn the pinion and check it for the free movement.
26. Fix the steering wheel as per the aligning mark and tight the nut.
27. Connect the lower and upper steering shaft and fasten it with the pinion
coupling.
28. Carry out central or mid position adjustment and connect the ball joint with
steering shaft.
29. Fix both dust boots over the ball joints and lock it.
30. Tighten the ball joint with specified torque with steering shaft.
31. Conduct the road test and adjust the steering accordingly.
Power Steering
The steering effort at steering wheel turning, two types of power is applied
mainly hydraulic and electronically operated motor.
Hydraulic operated power steering
In this type of power steering, fluid is pressurized through a centrifugal pump. This centrifugal pump is driven by the engine crankshaft through v belt. Hydraulic system consist of pump, fluid container,
hoses and steering mechanism having in and out valve connected through pipes and hoses. When the vehicle is moving in straight ahead direction, pump rotates and does not actuate the steering effort, when vehicle takes turn at low speed or in standing condition or parking condition. Pressurized Fluid is forced through the steering worm and rack piston through inlet valve. It helps to steer vehicle easily by reducing steering efforts.
Inspect the power steering
- Park the vehicle on the level ground
- Switch off the engine and check the oil level in power steering container
- It should be between minimum and maximum level
- Type of fluid is known as power steering fluid
- Check power steering hose connections for leakage/damages/cracks
- Check and replace fluid filter at regular interval as per service manual.
- Inspect the functioning of centrifugal pump in turning of vehicle, if faulty replace the pump
- Carry out bleeding operation after each service.
2nd type of Electronic power assisted steering system EPS
EPS uses as electric motor to assist the driver of the vehicle. Steering sensors
detect the position and torque of the steering column and ECU applies assistive
torque via the motor which connect to either steering gear or steering column. This
mechanism is fitted at steering shaft/ worm shaft. It helps in assisting in steering of
vehicle. In this system electrical motor operated advantage of this system is in fuel
efficiency because there is no belt driven hydraulic pump constantly running by the
engine.
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