Steering Mechanisms

Abstract

It is considered that this survey will be most useful if it is concerned with the principles employed and some typical methods of applying them rather than attempting to provide a comprehensive catalogue of all the component parts of steering mechanisms, especially as at least some history may be interesting. For instance, rocker shaft type boxes, which were originally practically universal, so long as they were concerned with front axles had to play their part in absorbing road shocks due to gyroscopic action of the wheels, and with high pressure tyres did not need to be very efficient.

Now that Independent Front Suspension (I.F.S.) has generally reduced gyroscopic and other action and low pressure tyres have put up steering torques, efficiency has become much more important and has affected the construction used.