Rack-and pinion versus recirculating ball steering?

Question

Does anyone know the difference between these two, and why Mercedes until recently, abandoned the recirculating-ball system.

I know why a lot of mfg's don't sell inline 6 engines anymore(to save money over a V-6), and I was wondering about this.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Recirculating ball steering is easier to turn (if not power-assisted), but much more expensive to make. Rack and pinion is more direct, and has more "feel" (you can feel the bumps and contours of the road through the steering wheel.) Great for sports cars, but not so good for luxury cars. I guess it took Mercedes this long to make a rack and pinion setup that insulated the driver from the road vibration.

Inline 6s are naturally balanced for primary and secondary vibration, but they are long. V6s can be balanced for primary vibration by using a balance shaft, but cannot be balanced for secondary vibration (this is why they always sound rough at high revs.) However, they are only 3 cylinders long, so they are easier to fit into the engine bay. Also, for better handling, the weight of the engine should be behind the front wheels, and this is easier to do with a V6 than an inline 6. This is why Mercedes (and BMW) have resisted using V6s for a long time. I suspect that pressure from Chrysler - Daimler (who now owns a controlling interest in Mercedes) is the reason they now use V6s. This way, they can fit the same engine into a whole range of cars. Same thing happened to Jaguar, who only had inline 6s and V12s until Ford came along.)

Answer 2

It is extremely difficult to fix a car over the phone. Almost as hard as fixing them with a computer and the internet. Go to a few shops and get more opinions after they actually look at the car. If it is the rack and pinion leaking, it needs replaced. There are seal kits for them but they don't always work and it is difficult to get anyone to guarantee it. I wouldn't. It takes more labor to fix one than replace it. A rebuilt unit comes with a guarantee. Replacing a rack and pinion unit would require at least an hour's labor for the easy ones. Some cars require partial disassembly to change the unit. Then the car will need an alignment. I would also recommend replacing the hoses at the same time. In my opinion, if that $700 mechanic includes all these things, he's probably not too much out of line. I don't know what the labor rate is there.

Answer 3

Recirculating Ball Steering

Answer 4

Recirculating Ball

Answer 5

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avocB

a rebuilt rack for that car is about 200 bucks the rest is usually profit on those so get another opinion on the actual cause of it before you try and price it out it may be something as simple as a hose or a rack with new hoses,the cost will vary a lot depending on what all it actually needs done to it,most shops can check it and give you a real close estimate on the actual amount it will cost to repair it,good luck.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Rack-and pinion versus recirculating ball steering?
Does anyone know the difference between these two, and why Mercedes until recently, abandoned the recirculating-ball system.

I know why a lot of mfg's don't sell inline 6 engines anymore(to save money over a V-6), and I was wondering about this.

Thanks!

Answer 7

Rack and pinion steering uses a round gear at the end of the steering column (the pinion) to turn against a straight piece (rack) with gear teeth on the side - pinion goes round, rack travels in line, linked to the wheel steering arms.
Recirculating ball basically uses the balls to replace the teeth, but the way it does it allows a more compact construction. The output is a swing arm. Generally, the recirculating ball is thought to offer less precise control.

The straight six is such a big long engine, especially in larger cylinder diameters, that it doesn't fit well with modern small cars or short hood card. Once it was difficult to balance a V6 (while a V8 is naturally balanced on a 4 cycle engine), but various changes about 20 years ago meant 6 cylinders fit into about half the length of a straight six and much more "naturally" into the roughly square space between the wheels, the firewall and the radiator of the engine compartment.

Answer 8

Rack and pinion are used on frount wheel drive vehicles. The use of the rack and pinion allows cars to be more compact. recirculating ball are used on rear wheel drive vehicles. The weight saving on the R&P is another advantage.