Steering gear and steering column on a passenger
car
Function
How many drivers think about how dangerous it would be if the
steering on their car suddenly failed? Hardly any! A car’s
steering system is one of the components that must and does function
safely and reliably throughout the whole life of the vehicle.
Requirements on the steering system
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Suspension struts on front axle with safety steering
column
Steering system
The steering system must:
meet high safety requirements
convert the angle of the steering wheel into the specifically
determined steering angle of the wheels
provide driver comfort
provide feedback on the movement condition of the vehicle
to the driver through the steering wheel
be maintenance-free for the life of the vehicle
be economical to produce and assemble
require little space.
Safety
The bearings fitted in steering systems are responsible to a
large extent for the safety, comfort and straightforward production
and assembly of the steering system.
If a steering component is defective or becomes defective during
operation, this has an effect on the function of the steering system.
Serious accidents can occur if the steering function is compromised.
In order to avoid damage to persons and objects, the steering
system must satisfy extremely high safety standards. Functional
safety of all steering components is therefore critical.
Bearings
The bearings must:
be maintenance-free for the life
of the vehicle
offer very high reliability
be easy to assemble.
Cost-effectiveness
Cost-effective design and production play a large part in determining
the competitiveness of a vehicle. Steering systems must therefore:
consist of only a few components
be easy to produce and fit
require little space
be maintenance-free for the life of the vehicle.
Driving technique
The driving requirements are influenced by the physics of driving
and the steering kinematics and are also determined by the comfort
requirements of the driver. The steering system must therefore:
operate easily, smoothly and
with a high level of efficiency and require little energy input
have an adequate but not excessive level of steering torque
with automatic self-centring
damp out disturbances due to unevenness in the road
surface and wheel oscillations
ensure directional stability and harmonious steering characteristics.
