Does the steering wheel control the front or rear wheels?
3 Answers
The steering wheel controls the front wheels, while special vehicles may control the rear wheels. The steering wheel only controls the front wheels for steering, continuously adjusting their direction. Common household cars, sedans, and MPVs typically use front-wheel steering, whereas special vehicles like forklifts and large excavators employ rear-wheel steering. The car steering wheel is connected to the steering shaft via splines, converting the driver's force applied to the wheel's edge into torque transmitted to the steering shaft. Common buttons on a car steering wheel include: 1. SET for speed setting; 2. CNL for canceling cruise control; 3. RES for resuming cruise control; 4. Up and down for volume adjustment.
After driving for so many years, I know very well that the steering wheel controls the front wheels. Every time I turn, the front wheels steer first, and the rear wheels follow—this is especially clear when I park. The mechanic told me that the steering linkage is directly connected to the steering knuckle of the front wheels, so turning the steering wheel makes the front wheels pivot left or right. Rear-wheel steering exists but is rare, mostly used in sports cars or large trucks, which require an additional steering mechanism. For cost savings and simpler design, regular family cars are all front-wheel steering. Just notice how the front of the car moves first when turning—the rear wheels are pulled along.
That day, while helping my neighbor check the steering issue with his car, I noticed the steering column runs straight down from the steering wheel to the front wheels. There's no steering mechanism for the rear wheels at all. The steering gear pulls the front tie rods, while the rear wheels are only responsible for transmitting power. A friend at a modification shop mentioned that some high-end models have rear-wheel steering assistance added, but the steering wheel primarily controls the front wheels. I test-drove a pickup with four-wheel steering, and it felt quite novel, but it's really unnecessary for daily driving. In the end, ordinary family cars rely on front-wheel steering, which is simple in structure and easy to maintain.
