FRONT AXLE AND

STEERING SYSTEM
 STEERING SYSTEM
Primary function of the steering system is to
achieve angular motion of the front wheels to
negotiate a turn.

Secondary functions of the steering system are :

To provide directional stability of the vehicle when going
straight ahead.
To provide perfect steering condition.ie perfect rolling
motion of the road wheels at all times.
To facilitate straight ahead recovery after completing a
turn.
To minimise tyre wear.
 REQUIREMENTS OF A STEERING SYSTEM
Steering mechanism should be very accurate and
easy to handle.

The effort required to steer should be minimal

and must not be tiresome to the driver.

The steering mechanism should also provide

directional stability. That means the vehicle
should have the tendency to return to its straight
ahead position after turning.
Front axle
 Types of stub axles

Elliot.
Reversed elliot.
Lamoine.
Reversed lamoine.
 Wheel alignment
Positioning of the steered wheels to achieve the
following is termed as wheel alignment.

Directional stability during straight ahead position.

Perfect rolling condition on steering.
Straight ahead recovery after completing a turn.
 Steering geometry

Camber.
Kin pin inclination (Steering axis inclination).
Combined angle.
Caster.
Toe in or toe out.
 camber

It is the tilt of the car wheels from the vertical.

camber is positive if the tilt is outward at the top.
Camber is also called as wheel rake.
 Tyres are meant to run vertical.
Positive camber increases straight ahead position.
Positive camber aids steering wheel return after
completing a turn.
This increases turning effort , this effort can be
considered less if negative camber is given for
steering wheels.
If the camber of two wheels are not equal, the vehicle
will pull towards the side where the camber is high.
In case of rigid axle suspension the camber remains
the same, but it will be slightly varying if the
suspension is independent.
Camber should not exceed 20 .
King pin inclination
 King pin inclination-Inclination of king pin from vertical.

Helps in straight ahead recovery- when the vehicle takes a turn, the
inclination causes the vehicle body to be lifted in relation to the road
wheels. So as soon as steering wheel is left after the turn the weight
of the vehicle tends to return the wheel to the straight position.

Amount- 7 to 8 degrees.
Combined angle
 Angle between the wheel centre line and the king pin centre line.
Combined angle is equal to camber plus king pin inclination.
Amount- 9 to 10 degrees.
Scrub radius
 Negative scrub radius- wheel tends to toe in.
Zero scrub radius- wheels are kept in straight position without any
tendency of toe in or toe out.
Positive scrub radius- wheel tends to toe out.

Amount scrub radius should be upto 12 mm.

Castor
 The angle between the king pin centre line and the vertical in the
plane of the wheel is called camber.

If the king pin centre line meets the ground at a point ahead of the
vertical wheel centre line it is called positive castor while if it
behind the vertical wheel centre line it is called negative castor.

Positive castor provides directional stability.

If positive castor increases then the effort required to turn the
steering wheel also increases.

Negative castor steering is usually unstable. Ie the directional

control is very poor.
 The vehicles having positive castor takes a turn, the outer side of the
vehicle is lowered while the inner one is raised. Ie positive castor
helps the centrifugal force in rolling out the vehicle. Negative castor
tends to roll in the vehicle.

Amount about 3 degrees of castor gives good results.

Toe in or toe out
 The amount by which the front wheels are set closer together at the
front than at the rear when the vehicle is stationary.

Toe in is provided for perfect straight ahead normal running

condition.

Amount- toe in is initially provided which does not exceed 3 mm.

Correct steering angle