Steering Set-up - Educate me!

[Cunney]

Evening,

My mechanical knowledge aint the best, not terrible but not great.

I'm having some handling issues at the mo and I think to try and solve the problem I need to understand what's what.

If somebody could give me a quick run through guide from the steering wheel through to the wheels themselves it would be a great help :S.

 

[maynard]

Steering wheel - steering coloumn - steering rack.

Then on the steering rack you have a tie rod either side, and then a tie rod end on the end of each rod. These tie rod ends, connect to the hub on either side of the front of the vehicle which allows for the steering action (turning wheels).

Don't think I've missed anything out there but sure someone will add to it if I have!

 

[Henry]

it'd probably be easiest to find some sort of schematic diagram

you've got two universal joints in the column and bearings in the struts as well. then there's the geometry (toe in/out). your probs might be more to do with the suspension than the steering, but it's all interconnected

 

[Cunney]

Cheers lads, I suspected the steering column might be twisted so was seeing if that was actually possible or if I was talking nonsense!

Hit a kerb very heavy, to the point where the right alloy was pointing almost back on itself while the alloy on the left was parralell with the car :-\ And all that needed replacing was a track rod end which I've never felt was right.

 

[Aluco]

Didn't do another barrel roll though ?

 

[Cunney]

It's that accident i'm referring to mate :-(

In terms of what's relevant to the mechanical side it was the heavy smash into the kerb that did the damage, the unfortunate fall onto it's side just lead to some costly panel damage.

 

[Paddy_g46]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/steering2.htm