Steering Linkage
Steering Linkage
With a rack-and-pinion steering gear, the rack is connected by linkage directly to the steering knuckle. Recirculating ball-type steering gears require a more complicated linkage to change the rotary output of the sector shaft to the back-and-forth movement of the wheels. A steering linkage consists basically of a steering gear Pitman arm, a center-link, and a tie rod assembly connected to each
other by ball sockets. The Pitman arm is splined on the steering gear sector shaft. When the sector shaft turns, the Pitman arm swings in an arc. The swinging end of this arm is connected to the center link.
The center link (also called drag link or relay rod) transfers the swinging motion of the gear arm to a linear or back-and-forth motion. It can also change the direction of the sector shaft arm motion, depending on the type of linkage. The center link is connected to the tie rods. These transmit movement of the relay rod to the steering arms. The steering arms are part of, or attached to, the steering knuckle spindle assemblies. When the steering arm moves, the steering knuckle assembly rotates on the suspension control arm ball joints.
Tie rod ends are used to connect the tie rods to the center link and to the steering arms. They are also used on the end of the sector shaft arm and the idler arm. Adjustment of the tie rod length is provided in threaded sleeves that are locked by clamps.
A tie rod end is a ball located in a socket. The ball is attached to a tapered stud. A spring or plastic spacer holds the ball in position in the socket. The tapered stud fits into a taper in a steering arm and is held in position by a threaded nut. The ball and socket allows up-and-down movement between the tie rod and the steering arm as the car goes over bumps. The ball and socket also allows back-and-forth movement as the driver turns the steering wheel. Grease is held between the ball and socket with a grease seal.
In most steering linkage arrangements, one end of the center link is supported in the Pitman arm. The other end is supported by a frame-mounted idler arm. The idler arm pivots in a support attached to the frame when the steering linkage moves back and forth.
WARNING: All steering linkage parts are manufactured from malleable materials and will bend, distort, or deflect rather than fracture under extreme shock loads. This toughness and malleability are necessary to avoid the complete loss of control that would occur if any part of a steering linkage were to break. Steering linkage parts must never be heated during a repair because this could cause them to lose their malleability and, as a result, fracture.
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