Steering motion is transferred directly to the rack and then to the wheels so the steering is more precise and far more responsive.
Simple rack and pinion steering diagram.
A typical rack and pinion steering layout showing how the rack acts directly on the road wheel steering arms.
The popular rack and pinion steering system in most cars small trucks and suvs on the road today there is a rack and pinion steering system.
A rod called a tie rod connects to each end of the rack.
Rack and pinion steering uses a gear set to convert the circular motion of the steering wheel into the linear motion required to turn the wheels.
A rack and pinion gearset is enclosed in a metal tube with each end of the rack protruding from the tube.
Working principle of rack and pinion steering gear.
Plus they have fewer joints in the steering linkage.
Helical gearing gives smoother and quieter operation for the driver.
This pinion runs in mesh with a rack that is connected to the steering tie rods.
As you can see in the diagrams rack and pinion steering systems have fewer moving parts inside the gear compared to recirculating ball steering systems.
It also provides a gear reduction so turning the wheels is easier.
Both the pinion and the rack teeth are helical gears.
It is actually a pretty simple mechanism.
The rack and pinion steering box has a pinion connected to the steering column.