![]() The goal is to make sure your car steers as predictably as possible and your tires don’t wear out unevenly.īump steer rarely occurs in unmodified suspension setups of cars. You’re All SetĪ thumb rule to follow after installing a correction kit is to check the alignment and toe angle. Getting a correction kit installed by an experienced mechanic is the way to go and you will be back to a sharper and better handling car. Lowering a car pushes the tie rod angle upwards from the IC which causes bump steer. But it’s not too difficult to fix, thanks to the adjustability offered by correction kits. Lowering the ride height of a car is the easiest way to disrupt this harmony. This is because components like the suspension linkages, tie-rods, wheel hub, and knuckle are all angled and engineered to work in harmony. The suspension geometry of your car is perfected from the factory, and so it is always recommended to not alter it unless you implement the right fixes afterward. The tie-rod-ends included in these kits can be adjusted extensively to provide maximum leverage. All this is done by replacing the standard tie-rods with adjustable ones. These kits come in handy for cars that are either lifted or lowered and easily help to align the tie-rod along the instant center. These kits are designed to change the angle of the tie rods to align them such that they intersect the IC point. So, any type of uncalculated modifications done to the steering geometry can cause it. This disrupts the arc in which the tie rods travel. So, the main culprit if you ever feel of a twichy steering wheel could most likely be the tie rods.Īdjusting your camber angle can also cause steering bumps as it causes the rotational axis of the spindle to change. If it is placed behind the spindle it will cause the tire to toe-out on bumps.Īnd if the rack is positioned ahead of the spindle, it causes a toe-in. This can cause toe-in or toe-out depending upon the placement of the steering rack. In short, any modifications that reposition the 3 main linkages (tie rod, upper, and lower wishbone) from intersecting at the IC cause bump steer. It mostly occurs in lowered cars or in those fitted with aftermarket control arms or camber kits. Generally, from the factory, this phenomenon is extremely limited and well managed. The IC is a reference point that helps us to calculate the correct layout for minimal bump steer. This introduces horizontal displacement within the tie rod and causes unwanted steering.īump steer is caused when the tie rod’s hypothetical inward extension (imaginary line) doesn’t intersect with the instantaneous center (IC) formed by the upper and lower wishbones. Because the tire rod is shorter in length and because it doesn’t rotate about the IC point, it travels in a different arc.Remember, the tie rod is what makes the wheel steer. ![]() The problem arises because the tie rod is shorter than the control arms.When the three components move up and down, they travel around an arc (because they pivot around a fixed point).In other words, they’ll all move up at an equal distance. Upper control arms, lower control arms, and tie rod - all three will experience the same amount of vertical displacement.Now, let’s look at what exactly happens when you drive over bumps: The function of tie rods and control arms.Instant center - as seen in our guide to suspension roll center.Wheel toe angles - we’ve explained this in our suspension geometry guide.To better understand this concept, it’ll help to have a good grasp of the following: For the sake of simplicity, we’ll explain this in the context of a double-wishbone + rack and pinion setup. Let’s try to understand why this happens. In other words, it makes your steering twichy and unpredictable. ![]() It is a result of misalignment in the steering system which causes the wheels to steer automatically when going over a bump - without any input from the driver. Bump Steer Explainedīump steer is a common and unavoidable problem. In this guide, we’ll explore this phenomenon, understand what causes it, and we’ll look at how to correct it. Even the fastest cars with the best suspension systems in the world can be plagued with bump steer.Įven though it can be corrected, eliminating bump steer is next to impossible. So much of what keeps your car going in the right direction is hidden away under a blanket of complex machinery.īut despite the impressive engineering, it’s not perfect. The automotive steering system is an engineering marvel. Each split second counts and the last thing you want is your car steering spontaneously when going through bumpy corners. When you’re at the track, the importance of being able to position your car accurately cannot be overstated. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |