Steering distribution

A steering ball joint connects the steering arm or tie rod to the steering knuckle. This allows the knuckle to move up and down with the wheel, while the steering arm or tie rod remains firmly attached to the chassis.

A steering knuckle ball joint functions similarly to a shoulder joint. It connects the control arm to the knuckle, allowing for movement and partial rotation. The round shape of the ball joint rotates within a socket, much like an arm in a shoulder socket, providing significant freedom of movement.

Depending on the type of suspension system, there is typically one or more ball joints connecting the control arm to the knuckle.

The steering rack is fixed between the wheels with tie rods. When you turn the steering wheel, the steering rack ensures the turning motion is efficiently converted into a steering motion. In vehicles with hydraulic power steering, oil is pumped into a piston within the steering rack.

The steering column drives the steering shaft via two universal joints. The steering shaft is connected to the rack's pinion, where the rotational movement is converted into a back-and-forth motion to the tie rods.

The steering arm is part of the indirect steering mechanism. It connects the steering shaft (the 'output shaft' of the steering rack) to one of the steering knuckles of the front suspension.

A tie rod transmits the steering movement to the wheels. Also known as a steering rod, it ensures the steering movement from the steering rack is passed on to the wheels, causing them to turn. The tie rod sits between the knuckle at the wheels and the steering rack.