ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses various types of steering mechanisms. Effort is required to turn the steering wheel due to the presence of friction between the tires and the road surface. In earlier steering systems, the driver provided the required torque to steer the vehicle. The high-pressure fluid is used to move a piston in the steering gear assembly to assist the driver. An electrically assisted steering system addresses most of the disadvantages of the hydraulic system, though it brings in some new issues and challenges. In an electric power steering system, the assist to the driver is provided by an electric motor. The steering system in an automobile converts the driver’s rotational input at the steering wheel or hand wheel into a change in the steering angle of the vehicle’s road wheels to control the direction of motion. The power source for an automotive application is usually the battery with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
