Lesson l/Learning Event 1
FIGURE 3. CENTER STEERING LINKAGE.
STEERING LINKAGE
To make a turn, the driver of a car or truck turns the steering wheel to the
right or left. Because each front wheel has its own separate steering
pivot, a considerable amount of linkage is needed to transfer the steering
wheel movements to both wheels. The steering wheel is located at the top of
a steering column. As it is turned, a steering gear at the bottom of the
column is operated. The steering linkage is all of the levers, rods, arms,
and links used to connect the steering gear to the front wheels. There is
wide variation in the amount of steering linkage on different vehicles.
Most vehicles with front axle suspension have a steering linkage arrangement
like the one shown in Figure 3. The linkage consists of the pitman arm,
which is splined to the output shaft or pitman arm shaft of the steering
gear; the drag link, which links the pitman arm to the steering knuckle arm
of the left front wheel; two steering knuckle arms, one secured to each of
the frontwheel spindles; and the tie rod, which links the two frontwheel
steering arms together. The linkage may be arranged so that the tie rod is
in front of the axle or behind it.
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