How Does Rack and Pinion Steering Work?

Rack and pinion steering provides much more responsive steering for the driver. Okay, so how does rack and pinion steering work?

If you are old enough [cough, cough], you’ll remember the old days when driving a car was like driving a boat. The steering was not exactly responsive. You needed to start turning about a block before you wanted the car to actually turn. The idea of doing a U-turn was absolutely laughable. Then rack and pinion steering came along to change everything.

Rack and pinion steering gets its name from the two key components that make up the system. The pinion is a long, circular metal part that looks like a pipe. One end connects to a linkage that passes from the driver’s area to the engine compartment. The other end of the pinion is grooved like a gear. In fact, it is a gear and this is very key.

The gear end of the pinion sits on a rack that runs horizontally between the two front wheels. This rack has groves that match those on the end of the pinion. When you turn the steering wheel, the pinion turns and moves the rack. It is a direct physical movement. When the rack moves, the tie-rods on each end of the rack move a control arm. The control arm is connected to the wheel and turns it right or left.

The beauty of rack and pinion steering is the fact there is not float in the steering like with older cars. If you turn left suddenly to avoid an accident, the car turns suddenly as well. The ratios used in the pinion can make this a bit of a soft drive if you desire, but it can also make it like driving a go kart as you get with a Mini Cooper for instance.

How does rack and pinion steering work? By giving you direct control of the movement of the front wheels to create immensely responsive steering.

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