Steering fundamentals

Question 1

what is the purpose of a steering system

Answer 1

to transmit the drivers intentions to the steering tires in a predictable and safe manner while maintaining steering geometry to help reduce tire wear

Question 2

the steering wheel is connected to the rest of the steering system by the

Answer 2

steering column

Question 3

the steering column is attached to the

Answer 3

the steering shaft

Question 4

the steering shaft feeds into

Answer 4

the steering gear

Question 5

the steering gear is attached to the tires through what linkage

Answer 5

to the pitman arm - drag link - upper steering arm - tie rod assembly - to the right hand lower steering arm - to the right hand steering knuckle

Question 6

how is the the steering wheel attached to the column

Answer 6

splined

Question 7

the lower end of the steering shaft it attached to the

Answer 7

worm shaft ( input shaft ) of the steering gear with a split yolk and pinch bolt

Question 8

what is the purpose of the steering gear

Answer 8

to transmit the drivers intentions from the steering gear to the linkage

Question 9

what can the steering gear also provide the operator

Answer 9

a mechanical advantage through the gear arrangement to make turning easier . also provides a change in the path of power

Question 10

what is the pitman arm attached to

Answer 10

the sector shaft

Question 11

what is the sector shaft

Answer 11

the output shaft of the steering gear

Question 12

what does the pitman arm change

Answer 12

rotary motion of the sector shaft to linear motion required to move the steering linkage

Question 13

what is the drag link attached to

Answer 13

one end of the pitman arm and the other to the upper steering arm

Question 14

how are the front wheels attached to the axle

Answer 14

by a king pin

Question 15

what is the purpose of the king pin

Answer 15

to act as a pin in the hinge and allow the wheels to turn

Question 16

what are the two sides of the hinge pin called

Answer 16

the steering knuckle and the I-beam axle

Question 17

what is carrying the load of the vehicle in the king pin assembly

Answer 17

the thrust bearing

Question 18

where is the thrust bearing placement in a reverse Elliot axle

Answer 18

on the bottom of the kingpin assembly

Question 19

what are the purpose of the adjustable steering stops

Answer 19

to limit the amount of pivot of each tire assembly

Question 20

where are the steering stops located

Answer 20

on the inside of each steering knuckle

Question 21

what are a few functions of the steering wheel

Answer 21

.provide the steering assembly with input forces
.have buttons for cruise control, engine brake, stereo controls, and horn
.can be equipped with a supplemental restraint system SRS (air bag)

Question 22

what is the importance of the steering wheel designe

Answer 22

large enough to reduce operator effort and small enough to allow clearance between the seat dash and door

Question 23

why must the steering wheel be positioned properly

Answer 23

to allow an unobstructed view of the dash gauges and warning lights

Question 24

what is the normal clock positioning for the steering wheel

Answer 24

10 degrees between 8 - 4 o clock

Question 25

what holds the horn switch disk away from the contacts

Answer 25

a spring and two plastic washers

Question 26

what allows a steering wheel with multiple functions to rotate freely in both directions

Answer 26

a clock spring

Question 27

what could result in damage to the clock spring during maintainance

Answer 27

turning the wheel while the steering shaft is disconnected

Question 28

what should be an inspection after steering wheel air bag deployment

Answer 28

inspect the clock spring

Question 29

during a light check if one of the lights stays on what could this indicate

Answer 29

that there is a problem with the srs system and needs to be repaired

Question 30

when working on a steering column how can you identify the SRS wire

Answer 30

it will be clearly marked or it will be the yellow wire

Question 31

what are the three types of steering gears

Answer 31

manual steering gear - integral power steering gear - rack and pinion steering

Question 32

what is the importance of the balls in a ball nut

Answer 32

to provide a type of bearing and reduce clearance between the worm shaft and ball nut . assuring as little play as possible and reducing friction

Question 33

what is the maximum rotation of travel for sector shaft gear for ball nut travel

Answer 33

30 degrees

Question 34

what is the purpose of the pitman arm

Answer 34

to turn rotary motion into linear

Question 35

how is the pitman arm attached to the sector shaft

Answer 35

splined

Question 36

what is important when attaching the pitman arm to the sector shaft

Answer 36

that they are timed together with the timing marks on both the pitman arm and sector shaft

Question 37

what is another name for the manual steering gear

Answer 37

Recirculating ball type

Question 38

can the drag link be used to center the steering wheel

Answer 38

no

Question 39

why do each end of the drag link need to use a ball socket design

Answer 39

because the pitman arm moves in an arc and the ball sockets allow for a limited amount of change in directional movement as the pitman arm forces the drag link back and forth

Question 40

is the one piece draglink adjustable

Answer 40

no

Question 41

what are the two adjustable types of draglinks

Answer 41

two and three piece

Question 42

what is the purpose of the upper steering arm

Answer 42

to transmit the motion of the drag link to the steering knuckle

Question 43

what is the purpose of the steering knuckles

Answer 43

to allow each of the wheel/rim assembly to pivot left or right during cornering

Question 44

if the tiers have been replaced to a wider tire what adjustment must be made to the steering system

Answer 44

adjusting the steering stop screws

Question 45

what is the minimum clearance tires can have between the frame and other components

Answer 45

1inch or 2.5 cm

Question 46

why is it important to have specific lower steering arms to each vehicle design based on wheel base

Answer 46

because the angle of the steering arms helps to determine the turning radius of the vehicle

Question 47

what are two advantages of power steering systems

Answer 47

give the operator road feel and a ease of turning while maintaining quick reaction time

Question 48

why must the power steering fluid be kept extremely clean

Answer 48

because clearance between the operating components in a power steering system are very small

Question 49

what are the advantages of a reservoir in a power steering system

Answer 49

``` .compensates for slight leakage .can transfer absorbed heat .has a filler port .level indicator .allows power steering to vent as it heats and cools .include a filter element ```

Question 50

why might you need to add oil coolers to the power steering system

Answer 50

to remove excess heat due to the small size of the reservoir

Question 51

what is the safety placed into the power steering pump to protect the steering components

Answer 51

a pressure relief valve

Question 52

what will a pressure relief valve set to low result in

Answer 52

hard steering or poor assist

Question 53

what will a pressure relief valve set to high result in

Answer 53

chance of steering linkage damage

Question 54

what is the most common type of power steering gear system

Answer 54

the integral power steering system

Question 55

the integral power steering system provides a combination of what

Answer 55

hydraulic booster mechanism with the steering gear assembly in a compact unit

Question 56

in an integral power steering unit what returns the rotary valve to neutral position

Answer 56

torsion bar

Question 57

in integral power steering gear how is road feel transferred to the operator

Answer 57

through the torsion bar

Question 58

in a integral power steering gear what replaces the ball nut

Answer 58

a rack piston

Question 59

what is used to release the pressure at the end of rack piston travel before the steering stops on the steering knuckle contact the axle

Answer 59

a set of poppets

Question 60

what is one major difference when using dual steering gear systems

Answer 60

they would each have there own set of pitman arms drag links and upper steering arms

Question 61

what a truck has multiple sets of steering axles it is referred to as what

Answer 61

tandem steering

Question 62

what still has to be maintained when using tandem steering axles

Answer 62

a mechanical connection

Question 63

what will you never find attached to a slave gear

Answer 63

a mechanical link

Question 64

what are the general components of a power steering system

Answer 64

``` .power steering fluid .reservoir with or without filter .power steering pump .pressure relief valve / flow control .at least one power steering gear .hoses and fittings ```