RazMan
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 posted on 7/10/07 at 11:07 AM |
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Kinky Rod Ends and Ackerman Steering
This came up in another thread so I thought it might be interesting for others ...
If I understand Ackerman steering correctly, moving the steering rack towards the rear of the car (which uses Cortina uprights) will introduce more
Ackerman steering effect. This reduces tyre scrub at slow speeds - something I have noticed when turning on gravel coated drives.
So if the track rod ends are 'kinked' like the one below left, will it have the same effect as moving the rack rearwards?
 
Rescued attachment Track Rod Ends.jpg
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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britishtrident
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| posted on 7/10/07 at 11:20 AM |
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No effect -- it is the position of the centre lines of the innner and outer track rod balls joints that has the effect.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 7/10/07 at 12:30 PM |
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Hi Raz, the following link albeit for radio controlled cars explains Ackerman really well.
http://www.rctek.com/handling/ackerman_steering_principle.html
Best wishes
John
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RazMan
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| posted on 7/10/07 at 01:28 PM |
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Excellent link John - I think I get it now.
While trying to get my brain around the principle I created a little diagram in Corel Draw to test the theory and I think it demonstrates it quite
well.
Here are two identical racks positioned on the same car - one behind the other. You can see how the toe of each wheel is affected when the rack is
positioned further back, effectively allowing inner and outer wheels to follow a different radius.
 
Rescued attachment Ackerman Diagram.jpg
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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