The Steering and suspension systems of a car are not only important for safety reasons but also enhances the comfort level of the vehicle. The two systems are directly related to each other, which is why they are always referred to together.

First lets look at the Steering system. There are two basic types, standard mechanical Steering and rack & pinion Steering. The standard mechanical steering can be either power assisted or non-power. Rack & pinion is almost always power assisted although there are rare cases where it is not.

Standard mechanical Steering uses a series of links and arms to insure both wheels turn in the same direction at the same time. It hasn't changed much in all the years it's been used and is quite simple.

Basically this is how it works; the Steering wheel is connected to the Steering box through the Steering column. The Steering box turns the rotation of the Steering wheel 90 degrees and, in the case of power steering, uses high-pressure fluid to help actuate the Steering.