Steering kickback relates to the sharp and rapid movements of an automobile's

steering wheel A steering wheel (also called a driving wheel (UK), a hand wheel, or simply wheel) is a type of steering control in vehicles. Steering wheels are used in most modern land vehicles, including all mass-production automobiles, buses, light and ...

as the front wheels encounter a significant obstruction or imperfection in the road. The amount of kickback is dependent on a variety of factors, namely the angle of impact with the obstruction or imperfection, health and stiffness of the vehicle's

shock absorber A shock absorber or damper is a mechanical or hydraulic device designed to absorb and damp shock impulses. It does this by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another form of energy (typically heat) which is then dissipated. Most sh ...

s, and the speed of the vehicle, as well as the type of steering mechanism used and its

mechanical advantage Mechanical advantage is a measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool, mechanical device or machine system. The device trades off input forces against movement to obtain a desired amplification in the output force. The model for t ...

Rack and pinion steering A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a circular gear (the ''pinion'') engaging a linear gear (the ''rack''). Together, they convert rotational motion into linear motion. Rotating the pinion causes the rack to be driven i ...

may be susceptible to kickback, as the steering rack transmits forces in either direction. A steering box design, such as

recirculating ball Recirculating ball, also known as recirculating ball and nut or worm and sector, is a steering mechanism commonly found in older automobiles, off-road vehicles, and some trucks. Most newer cars use the more economical rack and pinion steering ins ...

, is much less sensitive. Despite this, the other advantages of rack and pinion steering have led to its almost universal adoption, at least for light automobiles. Steering kickback is distinct from

torque steering In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of the ...

bump steer Bump steer is the term for the tendency of the wheel of a car to steer itself as it moves through the suspension stroke. Bump steer causes a vehicle to turn itself when one wheel hits a bump or falls down into a hole or rut. Excessive bump steer ...

roll steer Roll or Rolls may refer to: Movement about the longitudinal axis * Roll angle (or roll rotation), one of the 3 angular degrees of freedom of any stiff body (for example a vehicle), describing motion about the longitudinal axis ** Roll (aviation), ...

. These are similar outside influences that affect the direction of travel, but they do not cause a movement at the driver's wheel.

Mitigation

Steering kickback is a phenomenon which vehicle makers try to minimize in an early design phase of every vehicle because minimizing this phenomenon after vehicle deployment can be quite difficult. A major decrease of the force and velocity of the kickback requires changes in the suspension kinematics, namely the

kingpin inclination The kingpin (also king-pin, king pin and k pin) is the main pivot in the steering mechanism of a car or other vehicle. The term is also used to refer to part of a fifth wheel coupling apparatus for a semi and its trailer or other load. Histor ...

and offset, and also in the steering mechanism by changing lever ratio between fixed steering arms and

pitman arm A Pitman arm is a shaft that translates rotary or angular movement into linear movement, or vice versa. Pitman arms are commonly found in water pumping windmills, automotive steering systems, and sewing machines. In windmills, the Pitman arm con ...

s. Common ways to reduce kickback as an aftermarket solution can be by installing a

steering damper Originally designed in 1966 by Leonard R Jordan Jr the steering damper, or steering stabiliser is a damping device designed to inhibit an undesirable, uncontrolled movement or oscillation of a vehicle steering mechanism, a phenomenon known in moto ...

or a one way valve on the pressure port of the steering gear, but installing this solution may have bad impact on returnability to center, and may cause substantial wear on the tie rods and steering gear in the case of installing an aftermarket one way valve on the pressure port.

References

Automotive steering technologies {{car-stub