Steering System Rack and Pinion

What is Steering System?
Steering system in automobiles, steering wheel, gears, linkages, and other components used to control the direction of a vehicle's motion. Because of friction between the front tires and the road, especially in parking, effort is required to turn the steering wheel. To lessen the effort required, the wheel is connected through a system of gears to components that position the front tires. The gears give the driver a mechanical advantage, i.e., they multiply the force he applies, but they also increase the distance through which he must turn the wheel in order to turn the tires a given amount. Various types of gear assemblies, none with any decisive advantages over the others, are used, although some manufacturers prefer a rack-and-pinion system. In faster, heavier cars the amount of force required to turn the tires can be very great. Many of these cars use a power-steering system.


There are basically two styles of vehicle steering systems, rack and pinion and worm gear box. Rack and pinion steering is one of the oldest types of steering systems and is still used today. Inside the rack body a flat rack gear moves in a linear direction driven by a circular gear called a pinion. The steering wheel is connected to the pinion gear (shaft).

Rack and Pinion Steering
The rack gear is connected to an inner tie rod end that is covered by a rubber bellow. The inner tie rod end is connected to the outer tie rod end. These rod ends have the ability to move in any linear direction. Finally, the tie rod end is connected to the wheel spindle.

Rack Bellow, Inner Tie Rod, Outer Tie Rod End

Tie Rod End

Steering System Rack and Pinion Assembly