What Components Make Up a Mechanical Steering System?

[RileyMarie]

Mechanical steering systems consist of a steering wheel, steering column, universal joint, steering gear, pitman arm, drag link, tie rod, steering knuckle arm, steering knuckle, and trapezoidal arm. A mechanical steering system refers to a series of devices used to change or maintain the direction of a vehicle's movement, whether moving forward or backward. The working principle of a mechanical steering system is as follows: when the vehicle turns, the driver rotates the steering wheel as needed, transmitting the rotational motion through the steering column to the universal joint and steering gear. The steering gear converts the rotational motion into the swinging motion of the pitman arm, which drives the drag link, steering knuckle arm, and steering knuckle. Since the steering knuckle and steering knuckle arm are fixed to the vehicle frame via the steering column, the steering knuckle rotates relative to the frame, causing the wheels mounted on the steering knuckle to turn and complete the steering action.