Rack and Pinions

The rack and pinion is an important part of the vehicle which pushes or pulls the wheel in the way you want. It generally comes assisted hydraulically, electrically, or it may not be assisted at all. Many vehicles will also come with manual and hydraulic power rack and pinion.

Rack gear

The rack gear is housed in a tube made out of metal, which is then attached to the chassis. The column shaft is connected to the pinion gear, the pinion gear functions with the rack gear and moves along with the tube.

Rack and pinion function

The manual rack and pinion were commonly used in some smaller vehicles back in the days. More modern cars use power assist making it easier to turn the wheels. The vehicle also has a rotary valve which allows fluid to travel from the piston, generating the power assist to move the rack.

Hydraulic power rack and pinion generally uses a cylinder that is filled with fluid. The cylinder is located in the rack tube separated by a piston which is built to the rack in the vehicle.

Common issues with the rack and pinion

The rack and pinion tends to have problems when it comes to the seals. This is due to the high pressure that the O-ring seals have to deal with in order to hold the fluid. It may result in leaks and low fluid, also causing damage to the rack and pinion gears.