Automotive steering systems are divided into two categories: mechanical steering systems and power steering systems.
Mechanical steering system
The mechanical steering system uses the driver’s physical strength as the steering energy, and all the force-transmitting parts are mechanical. The mechanical steering system consists of three parts: steering control mechanism, steering gear and steering transmission mechanism.
When the car turns, the driver applies a steering torque to the steering wheel. This torque is fed into the steering gear via the steering shaft, the steering joint and the steering shaft. The torque amplified by the steering gear and the decelerated motion are transmitted to the steering rocker arm, and then transmitted to the steering knuckle arm fixed on the left steering knuckle through the steering straight rod, so that the left steering knuckle and the left steering wheel it supports are deflected. In order to deflect the right steering knuckle and the right steering wheel supported by a corresponding angle, a steering trapezoid is also provided. The steering trapezoid consists of trapezoidal arms fixed on the left and right steering knuckles and steering tie rods whose ends are connected with the trapezoidal arms as ball hinges.
The series of components and parts from the steering wheel to the steering transmission shaft belong to the steering control mechanism. The series of components and parts (excluding steering knuckles) from the steering rocker arm to the steering trapezoid belong to the steering transmission mechanism.