UNIT IV
STEERING, BRAKES AND SUSPENSION
SYSTEMS
ME 6602 – AUTOMOBILE
ENGINEERING
STEERING, BRAKES AND SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
• Steering geometry and types of steering gear
box-Power Steering, Types of Front Axle, Types
of Suspension Systems, Pneumatic and
Hydraulic Braking Systems, Antilock Braking
System (ABS), electronic brake force
distribution (EBD) and Traction Control.
Steering system
• Purpose of steering system:
– The steering allows the driver to guide the
vehicle along the road and turn left or right
as desired.
– The system includes the following;
• The steering wheel – which the driver controls.
• The steering gear – which changes the rotary
motion of the wheel into straight line motion,
and
• The steering linkage – which transmits the
steering gear movement to the front wheels.
Functions of a steering system
• The primary function of the steering system is to
achieve angular motion of the front wheels.
• To provide directional stability of the vehicle
when going straight ahead.
• To minimize wear and tear of tires.
• To absorb a major part of the road shocks
thereby preventing them to get transmitted to
the hands of the driver.
Requirements of a good steering
system
1. Very accurate.
2. Easy to handle.
3. Provide directional stability.
4. Multiply the turning effort applied on the
steering wheel by the driver.
General arrangements of steering
system
The main parts of the
steering system:
1. Steering wheel
2. Steering shaft
3. Steering column
4. Steering gear box
5. Steering drop arm
(pit man arm)
6. Pull and push rod
(Drag link)
7. Knuckle arm
8. Tie rod and Toe rod end.
Layout of steering system
Working
• The steering wheel rotates the steering column.
The steering gear box is fitted to the end of this
column. Therefore, when the wheel is rotated,
the cross shaft in the gear box oscillates.
• The cross shaft is connected to the drop arm. The
arm is linked by means of a drag link to the
steering arms.
• The steering arms on both wheels are connected
by the tie rods to the drag link.
Steering gears
• To change the rotary motion of the steering
wheel into straight line motion that will move
the steering linkage.
• Provide a gear reduction that will make the
automobile easier to start.
• Types of steering gears are;
– Worm and worm wheel steering gear
– Worm and nut steering gear
– Worm and roller steering gear
– Recirculating ball type steering gear
– Rack and pinion steering gear
Worm and worm wheel
steering gear
Note:
1. The arc movement of the drop arm is
usually from 60o to 90o
2. This system is commonly used in
tractors.
Worm and nut steering gear
Worm and roller steering gear
Re-circulating ball type steering gear
Re-circulating ball type steering gear
Rack and pinion steering gear
Rack and pinion steering gear
• The rack and pinion steering gear has become
increasingly popular for today’s smaller cars
(Maruthi 800). It is simpler, more direct acting,
and may be straight mechanical power or
power assisted in operation.
Steering ratio
• The steering ration is the number of degrees
that the steering wheel must be turned to pivot
the front wheels 1 degree.
• For example, the steering wheel must be
turned 18 degrees to pivot the front wheels 1
degree. Therefore the steering ratio is 18:1.
• The steering ratios generally used with present
day steering gears vary from about 12:1 for cars
to about 35:1 for heavy vehicles.
Steering geometry
Steering geometry
• When a car is moving along a curve, all its
wheels should roll truly without any lateral
slip.
• This can be achieved if the axes of all four
wheels intersect at one point.
• This point will be the centre about which the
vehicle will be turning at that instant.
Factors pertaining to steering
geometry
1. Camber
2. King pin inclination
3. Caster
4. Toe-in
5. Toe-out
Camber
• It is the tilting in or out of the front
wheels from the vertical when
viewed from the front of the
vehicle.
• If the top of the wheel tilts out, it
has positive camber, if the wheel
tilts in, it has negative camber.
• The amount of tilt measured in
degrees from the vertical, is called
camber angle.
• Note:
–Any amount of camber, positive or
negative, tends to cause uneven or
more tire wear on one side than the
other side.
–Camber angle should not exceed 2o.
Camber angle
King – pin inclination (or)
steering axle inclination
•It is the angle b/w the
vertical line and centre of
the kingpin or steering
axle, when viewed from
the front of the vehicle.
•Note:
–The combined camber
and king-pin inclination is
called the “included
angle”.
caster
• The angle b/w the king-pin
centre line and the vertical
plane of the wheel is called
caster.
• If the king-pin centre line
moves clock wise it is
positive caster and moves
anti-clock wise is negative
caster.
• The caster angle in modern
vehicle ranges from 2o to
8o.
Toe – in and Toe - out
• The toe-in serves the following
purpose:
– It ensures parallel running of the
front wheels.
– It stabilizes steering.
– It prevents side slipping and
excessive wear of the tires.
Types of front axle
• The front axles are mainly classified into types;
– Dead front axle.
– Live front axle.
The front axles are usually dead axles since they do not
rotate, in contrast to the live axles that they are used in
the rear axle to transmit power to the rear wheels.
Suspension system
• The suspension system of an automobile is
one in which separates the wheel/ axle
assembly from the body.
• The primary function of the suspension
system is to isolate the vehicle structure from
vibrations, shocks due to irregularities of the
road surface.
• The suspension system consists of a spring
and damper.
Cont…
• A good suspension system must have
springiness and damping. Springiness is elastic
resistance to a load.
• The elements incorporate springs,
dampers/shock absorbers, various linkages
and tie bars. This part is called suspension
system.
Functions/Requirements of
suspension system
• To prevent the road shocks from being
transmitted to the vehicle frame.
• To maintain proper steering geometry.
• To provide good road holding while driving,
cornering and braking.
Low initial cost.
Minimum weight.
Minimum wheel hop.
Minimum tire wear.
Low maintenance and operating cost.
Types of suspension system
Air – Gas suspension system
Rubber suspension system
Braking system
• Brakes are one of the most important control
components of the vehicle. They contribute
very much in the running and control of the
vehicle.
• The braking system used most frequently
operates hydraulically, by pressure applied
through a liquid.
• Some trucks and buses, the braking system is
operated by air pressure (pneumatically).
• Many boat and camping trailers have electric
brakes.
Function of brakes
• To stop the moving vehicle in the shortest
possible time.
• To help in controlling the speed of the vehicle
and to reduce the speed at turnings and other
crowded places.
Requirements of brakes
• The braking system should not be affected by
water, heat, road grit or dust etc.
• The braking system should be very reliable to
promote highest degree of safety on the road.
• Brake should work equally good in all weathers.
• The wear and tear of the material of the brake
lining should be minimum for its longer life.
• All the components and levers of the braking
system should be strong enough to take the
mechanical stresses and strains which are
encountered during brake actuation.
Hydraulic brakes
Single Master cylinder
Tandem Master cylinder
Wheel cylinder
Air brake system
Advantages and Disadvantages
• Much more powerful than the ordinary
mechanical and hydraulic braking system. (That is
why these are exclusively used in heavy vehicles).
• Simplified chassis design.
• The compressed air from reservoir, apart from
braking, can be used for tire inflation, windscreen
wipers, horns etc.
• Involve relatively more parts.
• The air compressor uses certain amount of the
engine power.
Electronic brake force distribution
Electronic brake force distribution
• Along with providing the foundation for the integration of other stability
control and braking systems, electronic brake-force distribution promises the
following benefits:
• Heavy braking will be more comfortable: since braking is more effective with
EBFD, your vehicle will stop faster, which will mitigate the effects that heavy
braking has on your own body (i.e., throwing your body forward towards the
steering column).
• Enhanced overall vehicle safety: EBFD will help reduce your risk of, spinning,
over steering, and under steering. Since braking is more effective on vehicles
with EBFD, you will likely notice a reduction in stopping distance.
• Improved braking predictability: the way your vehicle brakes constantly changes
depending on the condition of the road, the total weight of the vehicle, and
the distribution of weight within the vehicle. By automatically adjusting brake-
force to its optimal distribution, EBFD can help reduce the effects of these
factors and make braking more predictable.
EBD