The steering in a vehicle is one of the most important components. One of the first forms of steering to be used was the rack-and-pinion type. This class of steering came into use in the 1930's. It is simple, yet extremely effective.
The pinion, which is a gear wheel, is positioned at the outer end of the steering column. The steering column engages with the rack allowing it to move either left or right. There are tie rods which then deliver this movement to the wheels.
The more advanced power steering, still based on rack and pinion principles but assisted by power from the engine, came into effect in the late 1940's, particularly in the USA. Power steering utilises hydraulic servos within the system. This form of steering was introduced at this particular time to cope with the demands of the huge and heavy vehicles being driven. Later on, power steering was adopted to assist in helping vehicles give a quicker response. A possible drawback is that the steering can become too light when power steering is used.
