Our Steering Wheel Is Not Connected To The Wheels...???

[Geremy13]

Our Steering Wheel Is Not Connected To The Wheels...???

 

So as I am enjoying our new car I am seeing that there is NO steering shaft connected directly from the steering wheel to the gear box at the wheels......

 

My mechanic friend explained to me that it's all electronically controlled....... NO actual mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels....

 

WHAT?

 

OK,, so I'm old school. This is exactly what I have mounted in front of my computer for playing racing games? Yes, but when my computer crashes the wheel just turns and turns and does nothing.... and so I get up and go pee and grab another beer.

 

But what will happen when the same thing happens to my new computerized car? I guess I will still go pee (involuntarily) and grab that last beer before I meet God.

 

Can anyone help explain? I am completely curious how all of this works!......

[GrySql]

Ford, and other auto manufacturers, are using electric-assist steering. This system is NOT steer-by-wire, it has a direct connection to the steering linkage but the power assist is no longer hydraulic.

Instead there is an electric motor that is placed inline with the rack and pinion steering linkage that is used for assisting in controlling steering input.

 

Have your trusted mechanic look for the steering column again, or you can find it for him.

Get a flashlight, open the hood and stand near the passenger side front wheel, shine your light down, and behind, the Traction motor.

The FFH's steering wheel is placed pretty far back and the steering column drops down below the dashboard and attaches to the rack and pinion steering assembly about 1' behind the Traction motor.

FFH steering columns are $348 each, part # 3C529.

-

Nissan is going to start using full Steer-by-Wire soon.

-

BTW, driving your computer can be hazardous.

I once pulled the whole front off my computer desk by yanking back on my USB airplane control yolk as I attempted a wave off from a botched aircraft carrier landing.

My diaper remained in place, my sphincter had it in a death grip.

;)

Edited August 15, 2013 by GrySql

[Geremy13]

Ford, and other auto manufacturers, are using electric-assist steering. This system is NOT steer-by-wire, it has a direct connection to the steering linkage but the power assist is no longer hydraulic.

Instead there is an electric motor that is placed inline with the rack and pinion steering linkage that is used for assisting in controlling steering input.

 

Have your trusted mechanic look for the steering column again, or you can find it for him.

Get a flashlight, open the hood and stand near the passenger side front wheel, shine your light down, and behind, the Traction motor.

The FFH's steering wheel is placed pretty far back and the steering column drops down below the dashboard and attaches to the rack and pinion steering assembly about 1' behind the Traction motor.

FFH steering columns are $348 each, part # 3C529.

-

Nissan is going to start using full Steer-by-Wire soon.

-

BTW, driving your computer can be hazardous.

I once pulled the whole front off my computer desk by yanking back on my USB airplane control yolk as I attempted a wave off from a botched aircraft carrier landing.

My diaper remained in place, my sphincter had it in a death grip.

;)

 

Excellent Explaination!.... Thank you so much... I will have my mechanic friend look again and show him what he does not know!! .... and then offer him a beer...... ;)

[corncobs]

Here is another one I actually read it myself

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_steering

 

There is an Electric Steering section Ford uses the EPAS system really interesting.

[Geremy13]

Here is another one I actually read it myself

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_steering

 

There is an Electric Steering section Ford uses the EPAS system really interesting.

WOW,,, very interesting.

 

I need to go check out my steering column now to make sure it exists..... and then drive around the block.... shut off my car while it's coasting... and see if I can still control it.........

 

Good Stuff!

[kuzzi]

This thread makes me want to pull out the old Flight Sim that I was never really good at anyways. I can play online shooting games with the best of 'em, but when it comes to real world simulations, such as flying and racing, I am terrible.

[keithsm2]

anyone play aces high? good game for WWII Air to Air combat......and some ground game.

[hermans]

This thread makes me want to pull out the old Flight Sim that I was never really good at anyways. I can play online shooting games with the best of 'em, but when it comes to real world simulations, such as flying and racing, I am terrible.

I have a single engine pilot's license and I always crashed Sim Flight.

[acdii]

I have a single engine pilot's license and I always crashed Sim Flight.

I fly RC and always do much much worse on the sims. Thankfully only had one misguided landing in the corn this year, the rest of my landings have been where they are supposed to be. Most were not pretty, but they still landed without breakage, a few bent gears, but no breakage. 7' corn is a pain to land over.

[hermans]

I had an engine quit and was three miles from an airport. Switching to the 2nd magneto didn't work. I trimmed up the nose and with enough altitude I was able to glide to a landing. No doubt I would have crashed if I was using Sim Flight. That is the only close call I've had since I got my license in the 70s.

 

In Vietnam I was in a Chinook that crash landed while it was taking off and about 100 feet off the ground. Bumpy ride.

Edited August 16, 2013 by hermans

[terryb]

I was playing an early flight sim. version back in the 80s and took a hit off my cigarette and pushed the wrong button on my TRS-80 keyboard and the video did a sharp partial spin and I nearly fell out of my chair from the vertigo.

 

I'm pleased we aren't quite FBW yet, but now I know why I sometimes feel like I'm flying an F-16.

Edited August 19, 2013 by terryb