In domestic passenger cars, the steering system consists of three main units: steering gear,the steering gear is the so-called trapezoid, and steering column with a steering wheel.

The steering gear transmits to the steering gear the force applied by the driver when turning the steering wheel.

The steering gear, in turn, transfers power from the steering gear to the wheels, causing the wheels to turn in different directions at different angles.

Steering drive

The steering gear includes a set of several steering rods with articulated joints. On our Niva SUVs and their modifications, the steering mechanism is the so-called worm-roller, these mechanisms are always with two adjustments. If the worm-roller is included in the steering gear, then there will definitely be a pendulum arm.

Steering columns

As for the steering columns, they are solid (with one steering shaft) and composite (with an intermediate cardan shaft). The steering column includes built-in elements passive safety that deform on impact. This makes it possible to increase injury safety in the event of an accident.

Signs of increased backlash

If the car does not obey while driving, reacts late to your actions, it is difficult for you to control it, and when the front wheels refuse to turn on the spot with a sharp turn of the steering wheel, this indicates an increase in the steering play. Backlash is a small gap between the elements of the control system, most often associated with rotational movements.

The main reasons for the increase in backlash:

• wear of parts due to poor and untimely lubrication;
• incorrect adjustment or loosening of the steering gear and steering rods;
• low pressure or lack of air in the front wheel chambers;
• deformation of steering rods;
• high speed on bad roads;
• significant variable loads;
• frequent turning of the wheels when the car is parked.

This gap is undesirable because it can lead to very tragic consequences. For each car, the amount of steering play has its own norm, but in most domestic cars it should not exceed ten degrees. Important feature a car with power steering: it is necessary to check the backlash with the engine running.

Easy way to measure rudder play

A backlash meter is used to measure the backlash. If you do not have this device, or you simply do not know how to use it, then you can measure the backlash in a simple way using a ruler (screwdriver) and chalk (or wire).

Procedure:

1. Using a ruler or slotted screwdriver, tape it horizontally with one end (the tip of the screwdriver) touching the rim of the steering wheel. You can simply rest one end (or the handle of a screwdriver) against dashboard, and combine the other end with the steering wheel rim;
2. Make a mark with chalk or attach a wire at the point of contact between the steering wheel rim and the plane of the ruler (the end of the screwdriver);
3. Turn the steering wheel out until the front wheels start turning;
4. Make a second mark (attach the wire);
5. Measure the distance between the marks. It should be no more than 30 mm.

If during the check it turned out that there are deviations (increased backlash), then it is necessary to find and eliminate the malfunctions:

• check the reliability of fastening of the rudder crater to the frame and the steering wheel to the shaft. If necessary, they should be fixed;
• The attachment of the steering wheel to the shaft can be checked by shaking it perpendicular to the plane of rotation. If there is a swing, then tighten the nut of its fastening.

But it is best to contact a professional car service.

Be sure to check your vehicle before driving to avoid accidents and fatalities. After all, if the car is poorly and unreliably controlled, then it becomes future car of death. Besides, besides you, innocent people, including children, may suffer. Pay attention to even the slightest malfunctions, because our roads leave much to be desired.

Good luck on our off-road!

2.1. The total steering play exceeds the following values:
- cars and trucks and buses created on the basis - no more than 10 degrees;
- buses - 20 degrees;
- trucks - 25 degrees.

Comments on clause 2.1

If you stand near one of the front wheels of your car and ask someone to spin wheel back and forth at a small angle, then "with horror" you will see that the wheels are in place.

Do not be alarmed, this is normal. Before the wheels begin to turn, all gaps in the steering gear and in the steering link joints are selected. This is the backlash, that is free run steering wheel without turning the front wheels. Only any backlash should be within the normal range.

If total backlash steering control exceeds 10 °, then the operation of the car is prohibited, since movement along a given trajectory becomes very problematic, and in conditions of heavy traffic it is simply impossible. The car begins to "yaw" on the road with large lateral movements, which can lead to unplanned contacts with other road users.

When driving outside the city on high speed the yaw effect of the car on the road usually increases and, in the end, the driver simply loses control over the behavior of the car. In addition, the increased backlash of the steering wheel requires constant correction of the direction of movement of the car, as a result of which the driver is very tired, which cannot but affect general security road traffic.

Steering malfunctions in which traffic rules prohibit operation Vehicle

2.1. The total steering play exceeds the following values:

- cars and trucks and buses created on the basis - no more than 10 degrees.

"And what kind of non-Russian word is this, backlash?" - we often hear this question from future drivers. Now we will deal with this.

If you stand near one of the front wheels of your car and ask someone to turn the steering wheel back and forth at a small angle, then "with horror" you will see that the wheels are stationary!

Do not be alarmed, this is normal. Before the wheels begin to turn, all gaps in the steering gear and in the steering link joints are selected. This is the backlash, that is, the free play of the steering wheel without turning the front wheels. Only any backlash should be within the normal range.

If the total backlash of the steering exceeds 10 °, then the operation of the car is prohibited, since driving along a given trajectory becomes very problematic, and in conditions of heavy traffic, it is simply impossible. The car begins to "yaw" on the road with large lateral movements, which can lead to unplanned contacts with other road users.

When driving outside the city at high speed, the effect of yawing the car on the road usually increases and, in the end, the driver simply loses control over the behavior of the car. In addition, the increased backlash of the steering wheel requires constant correction of the direction of movement of the car, as a result of which the driver is very tired, which cannot but affect the overall road safety.

2.2. There are movements of parts and assemblies not provided for by the design. Threaded connections are loose or not secured the established way... The device for fixing the position of the steering column is inoperative.

It is very dangerous to operate the car if there are violations in the fastenings of the numerous joints of the steering rods, the steering mechanism, when they are torn off or not tightened threaded connections and also if they are not securely fixed. When the machine is moving, constant vibrations can cause the steering elements to become disconnected. And this already leads to a complete or partial loss of vehicle control and to an unpredictable trajectory of its movement.

This is why all screw connections are tightened in steering. special nuts, which are fixed with cotter pins from spontaneous unscrewing. Some designs use one-time self-locking nuts. And do not save on these penny details by reusing a one-time nut or a bent cotter pin, because this savings can "backfire" very deplorably.

2.3. Defective or missing design power steering or steering damper (for motorcycles).

First of all, let's understand what "power steering" is.

Power steering is designed to facilitate the driver's work when turning the steering wheel. It consists of a pump, a switchgear and a hydraulic cylinder (Fig. 53).

Rice. 53. Diagram of the power steering: 1 - amplifier pump; 2 - switchgear; 3 - pipelines; 4 - power cylinder amplifier; 5 - amplifier piston with a rod; 6 - pendulum arm; 7 - oil container

When the steering wheel is turned, the pressure distribution device directs the fluid into one of the cavities of the hydraulic cylinder, thereby helping the driver to turn the steered wheels.

When the steering wheel is turned to the left, fluid under pressure enters cavity A (Fig. 53), and when turning to the right into cavity B. When the engine is not working, the steering wheel will be turned with a noticeable effort, since the hydraulic booster does not work.

Do not drive if the steering is faulty. [Hereinafter in red a list of faults is given in which further movement vehicles are prohibited in accordance with paragraph 2.3.1. Of the Road Traffic Regulations.]

If on the way there was a refusal in the operation of the steering, then further movement of the car is prohibited! On your own, you have no right to drive a single meter, and it is unlikely that you will succeed. True, it is possible to eliminate the malfunction on the spot, if you "dock" in the "insides" of the car and carry a lot of spare parts with you. Otherwise, you have to call a mobile car service or a specialized towing vehicle.

Backlash is a term in mechanics that implies that an element has free play. mechanical system... It is a parameter by which one can judge the magnitude of the movement of the above-mentioned node to receive a response from another - the controlled node.

In other words, the size of the backlash is characterized as the amount of rotation or displacement of the controlled element, which does not lead to any changes in the object.

For a car and is the steering angle at which the car continues to move in a constant direction.

What is meant by total steering wheel play?

Another term requiring consideration is "total backlash". By it is meant the total angle, the counting of which begins at the extreme position of the steering wheel on one side, when the turn begins, to the opposite position, when the machine starts moving in the other direction.

To understand how the total backlash works, it is important to understand the design and operation of the control system. If we proceed from the technical component, the principle of the backlash is as follows.

In the transmission of steering rods, there is a rod, which is fixed with a small gap of one to two millimeters.

This distance is necessary to protect the steering engagement assemblies from wear due to excessive friction.

The presence of a gap is a technological solution that allows you to keep the hook in the required position and not touch the surface of the teeth.

For the driver, this parameter represents the free play of the steering wheel, which allows you to get more precise control of the car and feel at what moment the direction of the vehicle is changing.

In fact, it is total distance which passes the steering wheel before the car goes to the left or right side.

Many people mistakenly consider this phenomenon negative and try to get rid of it. You should not do this, because play in the steering is the norm for every car. Another thing is that it must have a strictly defined value.

An interesting pattern can be traced here - the larger the car has, the higher the backlash indicator.

In the process of measuring the total backlash, a number of conditions must be met:

• The front wheels are in neutral position and stand on firm (asphalt or concrete) surface.
• The tires on the steered wheels are clean and dry.
• The car engine is running. This is relevant if the operation of the power steering is being tested.
• Tension drive belt the power steering pump, as well as the level working fluid must comply with the requirements that are approved by the manufacturer.

Checking the total backlash is carried out by measuring the angle of rotation of the control wheel between the fixed positions of changing the movement to the left and right sides.

To obtain accurate parameters, the measurement is performed two or more times.

What is the steering wheel start?

In addition to the one discussed above, there is another term that you need to know about - the beginning of the turn steering wheel.

This parameter hides the angle of rotation of the wheel by 0.06 degrees with an error of 0.01 degrees in one direction or the other.

The parameter is measured when pushing off from the position of the rectilinear movement.

Permissible backlash in cars

The traffic rules prescribe the normalized indicators of the total backlash for different cars... In addition, this parameter should not exceed the figures indicated in the documentation for the operation of the machine.

If there are no special recommendations in the manufacturer's papers, the backlash should be as follows:

• For passenger cars, as well as units of buses and trucks made on their basis - 10;
• For buses - 20;
• For trucks -25.

• For VAZ-2106, 2107, 2110, 21213 - 5;
• For Gazelle 3302 - 20 (passenger version) and 25 (truck).

Reasons for the large backlash

The explanation for the increase in backlash can be changes in design features steering, as well as the destruction of their elements.

The main reasons include:

Generally speaking, backlash occurs when there is a malfunction in the chain between the steering wheel and the wheels.

To find out the reason, it is necessary to go through the entire chain and determine the "weak" points. The main thing is to make sure that we are talking about increased free travel, and not about other problems.

Other reasons for steering play include:

• Worn out or incorrect adjustment of the gearing of the "worm" and the roller mechanism.
• Worn axle or pendulum arm bushings.
• Looseness of the crankcase fasteners.

Breakage signs

As noted above, in order to effectively eliminate a malfunction, it must be diagnosed in a timely manner. To do this, it is enough to know the signs of backlash in the steering.

The main symptoms include:

• The appearance of a knock in the steering mechanism;
• Increased vibration while driving;
• Squeak when turning the wheels;
• Deviation from the set path with a straight steering wheel position.

When adjusting the steering play, it is worth taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations and traffic rules.

The configured parameter should not exceed the upper limit, but you should not underestimate the indicator either.

Too little steering wheel play can cause additional discomfort and impair vehicle handling.

At the same time, one should not ignore the appearance of a small backlash, because over time this parameter may increase, and then it will be more difficult to deal with the problem.

And it is inconvenient to drive the car when you constantly have to "catch the road" and turn the steering wheel in one direction or the other.

Diagnosis of the problem and used devices

To determine if the parameter is correct, you need to do a little check.

To make sure that there is a problem, you can use a special device - a backlash meter.

It can be used to check the total (total) backlash in the system.

One of the device options is K 524 M or ISL-M, which can be used ordinary car owners and professionals at the service station.

With the help of a backlash meter, it is possible to determine the amount of free play in just three minutes, including taking into account the installation and removal of the device.

The procedure for diagnosing steering play is as follows:

• Start the engine (it should run on Idling);
• Place the front wheels parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine. At the same time, make sure that the hydraulic booster is working;
• Turn the steering wheel one way and then the other. At this moment, record the moments when the front wheels begin to turn in the required direction. The distance that the steering wheel travels between these gaps is called backlash (free wheeling).

This check is considered excellent option for drivers who need accurate and fast information.

It doesn't matter how the problem was diagnosed. If the play in the steering system exceeds the norm, it must be eliminated.

How to troubleshoot: basic methods

To adjust steering, you will need a standard set of tools to adjust the mount.

If a manual measurement or the K 524 M device showed an unsuitable result, you should do the following:

• Try adjusting the screws reinforcing cardan joints... You can find these elements on the steering shaft.
• Using the hinge adjusting screw, set required parameter.
• Check the amount of backlash. If the free play remains above the norm, it is necessary to look for another reason.
• Tighten the adjusting nut on the steering rack (if provided), this will eliminate the gap between the rack and pinion gear, which may be causing the backlash.

The next step in the adjustment can be the adjustment of the steering link joints.

It is more difficult to do this in a garage, because an overpass is required to complete the work, inspection pit or a lift.

You will most likely see that the hinges are damaged, which indicates that the screws need to be tightened. In addition, the tie rods are worth stretching.

If it is not possible to eliminate the backlash by the methods described above, there is only one solution - to disassemble the steering mechanism and change the failed parts.

In the absence of the necessary experience and knowledge, you can contact experienced specialists at the service station.

Motorists should carefully monitor the condition of the components and mechanisms of the vehicle in use. Negligence in the health of the vehicle (TC) can lead to very serious breakdowns and the occurrence of road accidents. Car malfunctions vary in scale and complexity, in the presence of some of them, vehicle operation is prohibited.

1 When the operation of the machine is questionable - 3 categories of malfunctions

There are various vehicle malfunctions in which it is prohibited to operate the vehicle. In most of them, the car can be used to get to the repair shop, but it is no longer intended for any other movement. According to the norms current traffic rules transport may be prohibited from using, even if there are relatively minor problems.

There are several categories of malfunctions in which it is impossible or not recommended to use the vehicle:

1. Problems with the car, in which further operation is strictly prohibited. Such malfunctions include breakdowns in which, even when driving to a car repair shop, the car can pose a serious danger to the driver himself and all other road users. Heavily damaged cars are taken away for repair by a tow truck or tow.
2. Malfunctions in which the operation of the car is prohibited, except for driving to the repair shop. These machine problems include mechanical failures.
3. Minor breakdowns, in which the operation of the vehicle is possible - an inoperative shock absorber, power window, etc. In other words, minor faults are those that do not seriously affect the performance of the vehicle. However, even such breakdowns can lead to some difficulties in using the machine and to the occurrence of much more significant malfunctions.

That is why it is necessary to periodically carry out diagnostics to identify malfunctions and respond as quickly as possible to any problems found in the mechanisms and assemblies of the vehicle. This is the only way you can guarantee long service and the reliability of your own car.

2 Malfunctions in which the use of the vehicle is strictly prohibited

The most common reason for the impossibility of safe use of the machine are problems with the steering and braking system. You cannot use a car with faulty brakes, because such a vehicle poses a serious threat to road safety. The traffic rules indicate that the operation of the vehicle is possible only if the braking system can ensure the stationary state of the vehicle at full load on the road at an angle of up to 16 degrees. For passenger cars and buses, the angle of stopping at an angle is 23 degrees, and for trucks - 31 degrees.

There are only two faults. brake system, in which further operation of the car is possible:

1. Reduced pedal free travel.
2. Inoperative brake lamp.

No less common and, because of which the machine cannot be used. The vehicle must not be operated if the steering wheel play exceeds allowable rate... For different cars this norm differs:

1. For cars - 10.
2. For buses - 2.
3. For trucks - 25.

In addition, it is strictly forbidden to use the car in the event of malfunctions of the external lighting devices. At night and with poor visibility, a car with inoperative headlights cannot move normally and safely on the road; it poses a direct threat to the driver and other motorists. The number of lighting devices must fully correspond to the number provided by the design.

Car operation is also impossible under the following conditions:

1. If external lighting devices heavily contaminated.
2. If not done correctly.
3. If lenses are not installed on the headlights or they do not correspond to the type of lighting devices used.
4. If the rear dimensions do not work on the machine.
5. If headlamps are fitted with any color other than white.

The color of external light lights is regulated by GOST. If devices are installed that do not comply with clause 2.5.6 of GOST, then the operation of such a vehicle will be prohibited. And here is the car without fog lights you can use it without fear of problems with traffic inspectors.

Separately, it is worth touching on the topic of cars with inoperative washers and wipers. It is allowed to use a car with such malfunctions, but only in conditions when these problems do not adversely affect road safety. During periods when there is a need for such devices, for example, when heavy rain or snowfall, it is impossible to use the car, because the driver simply will not be able to monitor and respond in a timely manner to the situation on the road.

If a car with inoperative windshield wipers is stopped in the rain, penalties may be imposed against the driver, which will be accompanied by the removal of license plates from the vehicle. However, this is not the worst possible result of operating a vehicle with non-working cleaners, because this problem increases the likelihood of an accident. If the vehicle is operated with a trailer, it cannot be used in the event of an inoperative or unreliable hitch.

3 Mechanical damage, in which you can only get to the auto center

At mechanical problems with a car, the driver is allowed to independently deliver it to the place of repair or destination, subject to all possible measures security. To such mechanical damage it is customary to attribute significant wear of tire treads and other rubber malfunctions:

• mechanical damage to tires, in which the cord becomes visible;
• delamination of the tire carcass;
• the initial stage of peeling of the rubber tread.

Drivers are also forbidden to put tires with different tread patterns on one axle, and also to combine winter and summer tires- tires with and without spikes. Another reason for the need for the fastest delivery of the vehicle to the place of repair is faulty engine... The machine must not be used if the exhaust gas contains too much harmful substances- when this indicator significantly exceeds the permissible rate. The car must not be driven even if it makes too much noise when driving.

Often there are other problems in which cars can only be used for driving to a car workshop, namely:

• problems in the operation of the hand brake;
• lack of seat belts or their inadequate quality;
• breakdown of the speedometer (it is advisable to eliminate the malfunction at the place of its detection, if this is not possible, you must immediately go to the repair shop);
• problems with the beep;
• no sign emergency stop or first-aid kits (these shortcomings do not directly affect the performance of the car, but according to the law, a car cannot be used without these elements);
• breakdown of the glass heating mechanism;
• breakdown of the driver's seat adjustment mechanism.

Problems that prevent a car from being used can be created by motorists themselves. It is prohibited by law to hang on rear glass curtains, if at least one side of the car is not side mirror rear view.

If you find a malfunction, no matter how small it is, it must be soon eliminate. If this is not done, then you will not be able to safely drive the car. Firstly, due to a breakdown on the road, emergency situation... Secondly, a malfunction can be detected by the traffic police, as a result of which you will be penalized. Thirdly, by delaying the repair, you run the risk of greatly aggravating and complicating the existing problems, as a result of which delayed repairs will cost much more.