Steering rack

[X5Jay]

Laura - let's see if I can describe this in such a way that you can picture it...

Your steering wheel is connected to a rod that runs through your dashboard and fire wall to somewhere between the front wheels. At the end of this rod is a round gear called a "pinion gear". The teeth of the pinion gear mesh with the teeth on the steering rack. Keeping it simple, the steering rack is also considered a gear, but it's not round like you might think a gear should look, it's a straight bar with gear teeth on it. The steering rack is perpendicular to the rod that I described earlier and it sits between the wheels like this ()====(). The front wheels are connected to the ends of the steering rack. When you turn the steering wheel, the pinion gear moves the steering rack back and forth to make your wheels turn. This is where the term "rack and pinion steering" comes from.

Did I do OK? Did that help?

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by X5Jay

Laura - let's see if I can describe this in such a way that you can picture it...

Your steering wheel is connected to a rod that runs through your dashboard and fire wall to somewhere between the front wheels. At the end of this rod is a round gear called a "pinion gear". The teeth of the pinion gear mesh with the teeth on the steering rack. Keeping it simple, the steering rack is also considered a gear, but it's not round like you might think a gear should look, it's a straight bar with gear teeth on it. The steering rack is perpendicular to the rod that I described earlier and it sits between the wheels like this ()====(). The front wheels are connected to the ends of the steering rack. When you turn the steering wheel, the pinion gear moves the steering rack back and forth to make your wheels turn. This is where the term "rack and pinion steering" comes from.

Did I do OK? Did that help?

I got that but why would I have an issue only when braking hard, she is pin straight the rest of the time. I have been noticing a 'skip' when I go over uneven road seams lately.

Thanks for the girlie explanation

[The Cleaner]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

I got that but why would I have an issue only when braking hard, she is pin straight the rest of the time. I have been noticing a 'skip' when I go over uneven road seams lately.

Thanks for the girlie explanation

When you brake the load changed to the front of the car and the steering rack is responcible for the stability during that time, if the pinion (worm) gear is worn the rack will move back and forth causing a vibration

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by The Cleaner

When you brake the load changed to the front of the car and the steering rack is responcible for the stability during that time, if the pinion (worm) gear is worn the rack will move back and forth causing a vibration

Thank you!

[noncom23]

Originally Posted by The Cleaner

When you brake the load changed to the front of the car and the steering rack is responcible for the stability during that time, if the pinion (worm) gear is worn the rack will move back and forth causing a vibration