How the steering
and suspension system work? We often ignore steering and suspension but you
know you won’t be enjoying safe and comfortable ride without these! Here is
some of the basic knowledge about steering and suspension that you need to know!
- PartsAvatar Car Parts.
What factors ensure
a comfortable ride for you on road? They are- balance, smoothness and
stability! Car's steering and suspension system is responsible for this! If
there is some issue with your car’s steering and suspension component, then you
would probably experience bumpy ride.
How the steering and suspension system work?
Both the steering
and suspension system involve movement of wheels, so they are usually talked
about together. Steering and suspension are responsible for keeping your wheels
firmly intact with the ground, and also keeping your car from veering to one
side of the road.
The steering allows
you to point the car where you want it to go, and the suspension allows you to
get there comfortably without experiencing bumpy roads.
Steering Components
The steering gears
convert the rotation from the steering wheel into the left and right movement
that steers the front wheel. Steering gears has two different styles- rack and pinion
and re circulating ball. Rack and pinion has a long bar with gear teeth in it
while re circulating ball gear also has a round gear in it and turns an outer
arm back and forth. Rack and pinion is popular in small cars and powers
assisted while re circulating balls are popular in larger vehicles.
Car’s Ball joints
and tie rods allow the steering gear to move while the suspension moves up and
down. Tie rod connects the steering gears to drive wheels. Most systems have
four tie rods- two out by the wheels and two in the inner rotation point.
Power steering uses
hydraulic or electric power to assist in turning of the wheels. You can also
shop for power steering or other steering components at PartsAvatar’s car chassis and
suspension section!
Suspension Components
Suspension is a
term given to the system of shock absorbers and linkages that connect a car to
its wheels. The suspension system has two basic functions-1) to keep car’s
wheels in firm contact with the road and provide traction 2) to provide a
comfort ride by eliminating the impact of bumps and other cracks on road.
Major suspension
system components are spindles, control arms, springs, shocks, struts, dampers
and sway bars.
Spindles hold the
wheels and brakes in place and rotate on top and bottom mounts to turn the
drive wheel. It is usually connected to the ball joints that can rotate and
move with the suspension.
Car Control arms
enable the spindle or axle to rotate and give with the surface of the road. Most
control arms with a ball joint allow the joint to move as needed.
Springs smooth your
ride by enabling the wheels to move with road or driving conditions. They also
help in turning by allowing the suspension to give a little bit. They absorb
the impact from the road but there aren’t that effective in dissipating energy.
Shocks and struts
do what the springs lack at i.e. dissipating energy. They convert the energy of
moving spring into heat and use either gases or oil to dissipate energy
pressing on the spring. When the spring wants to return to its initial
position, it slows down the process. Hence this makes your ride smooth by eliminating
bouncing effect of spring.
A shock absorber is
independent of steering and simply controls up and down movements of the suspension.
They permit soft ride over small bumps and provide firm control over spring
action for cushioning large bumps.
Automotive Sway bars
are connected to control arms and to the body by bushings that allow them to
twist. These are used to stiffen the suspension when the car wants to roll.
This reduces body roll and improves ride quality.
Steering and suspension problems
Steering and
suspension problems can be difficult to identify because there are many issues
that may or may not be tied to the suspension. These need to be addressed
immediately to prevent an unsafe condition.
Steering Issues
Car starts pulling
to one side due to number of steering problems- worn steering components,
misalignment of front steering wheel, blocked power steering or underinflated
tires.
Car becomes
difficult to turn when the power steering fails. Look for the signs of power
steering fluid loss and check the belt driving it.
Worn tie rod ends
or internal gears can make steering wheel erratic. It will take a lot of
rotation of your steering wheel to take a turn. Replace them and get your car
checked by mechanic.
Don’t ignore whining noise
coming from power steering. It may be due to- air bubbles, failing power
steering, loose belt or broken or failing bearing on the pulley driving the
pump.
Check the fluid
level and belt’s condition first. Have a professional check to see if your
system needs to be vacuumed out to remove the air of lines.
Suspension Issues
Worn out ball joints
can’t hold up against the pressure the tires exert and cause vibrations.
Squealing sound of car
can be caused due to loss of lubrication. Springs and shocks can also cause
squeaking.
If the car hits a
large bump and the suspension bottoms out, the shocks may be wearing out or the
suspension parts may be worn out and are not holding in the place.
Over the time, oil
can leak out of shocks and struts causing shocks or struts to fail. Impacts and
accidents can also cause leakage.
In major accidents,
linkages can fail and you may need to replace the whole assembly.
Many joints tend to
wear out leading initially to looseness and eventually to a failure.
Ball joints, tie
rod ends and other metal on metal parts need to be lubricated or they will
grind against each other and fail. These parts have special grease fitting that
allow you to pump grease into the joint.
Be careful while
greasing the suspension, not enough grease and the parts are not protected, too
much grease and you can break the rubber covers.
So, now you know
enough about steering and suspension system. For a safe and comfortable drive,
there maintenance is a MUST.
So, keep yourself
safe on the road and shop for premium quality steering and suspension
components from PartsAvatar!
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