Contents
– Steering box: characteristics
– Repairs and maintenance of the steering box
– Price of a steering box
The steering gear is a crucial safety element for the steering function of vehicles. All the more reason to take a closer look at this component!
Steering box: characteristics
How it works
It transforms the steering wheel rotation movement, initiated by the driver, into a translation movement to generate the wheel steering.
Description
Two systems coexist:
– The most common is a box that is an integral part, for passenger cars, of the steering rack. The steering wheel imparts its rotational movement to the housing through an axis called the steering column. A pinion at the entrance to the housing meshes with a toothed bar (steering bar) inside the rack; this is when the rotational movement is transformed into translational motion. The steering bar itself, connected to the steering rods, moves and allows the wheels to be turned.
– The other system is mainly used on SUVs and 4×4s and consists only of a steering box operated by the steering wheel and the steering column. The input pinion is a worm screw, which drives a toothed sector through a ball system. This is connected to an outer connecting rod (pendulum rod) which transmits the steering direction to the steering linkage, connected to the wheels.
Please note: whatever the type of steering gear, today it is systematically supported by hydraulic or electric assistance that multiplies the effort.
Repairs and maintenance of the steering box:
– Integrated rack and pinion steering systems
Incidents on the gearboxes are exceptional (shocks due to accidents). Although they can be dismantled, professionals systematically replace the entire steering rack.
– Housings without steering rack
Due to their design, there is always a “functional” play, which must be checked regularly and readjusted with an adjustment screw.
This system is lubricated by oil, which can be replaced (the gearbox has a level plug); in general, it is gearbox oil (80w90 or ATF).
The table below compares the two types of boxes
|
|
Light vehicle gearbox (for light vehicles) |
Heavy-duty gearbox |
|---|---|---|
|
Advantages |
|
|
|
Disadvantages |
|
|
Symptoms of malfunction are:
– a large amount of play in the steering wheel;
– imprecise steering;
– steering wheel not returning after turning;
– oil leaks from the seals.
Note: Adjustments and dismantling should only be carried out by an experienced technician.
Indicative price of the steering box
|
|
Type of box |
Manufacturer network |
OEMs |
Automotive websites |
Specialized sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New part |
Rack and pinion (light vehicle) |
$970 |
$600 |
$578 |
$515 (regular specials up to 50%) |
|
Steering Box (4×4) |
$1 200 |
$900 to $1 200 |
Not included |
$840 |
|
|
Standard exchange |
Rack and pinion (light vehicle) |
$600 |
$450 |
$250 (few choices) + $44 deposit |
$240 (+ $150 deposit) |
|
Steering Box (4×4) |
$800 |
$500 to $600 |
Not included |
$450 (not including deposit and return shipping) |
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