Steering Column: Description and Operation

TILT MECHANISM
- The steering wheel vertical position can easily be adjusted within 30 mm (1.18 in) range, by using the tilt lever to release the steering column and locking it at the desired position.
- Even when the tilt lever is moved to the UNLOCK position, the steering wheel remains unmoved by the effect of the balancer spring.

IMBEDDED BALL TYPE ENERGY-ABSORBING MECHANISM
1) Construction of the steering column is simplified to reduce weight since energy absorption is no longer required for the steering column.
2) The energy-absorbing characteristic is regulated by imbedded ball height.





(1) Vehicles without airbag
The protrusion of the ball imbedded in the steering shaft provides plastic deformation of the tube's inner wall to effectively absorb energy encountered.





(2) Vehicles with airbag
When vehicle is involved in a frontal collision, the bolt located between outer and inner column pipes acts to give plastic strain to the two pipes in relation to relative movement of the two pipes.
The result is effective collision absorption.





STEERING SUPPORT BEAM
The steering column is held by a support beam located close to the steering wheel to reduce the overhang. The upper bearing is also located close to the steering wheel to increase supporting rigidity, as well as to reduce the problem of a shaking or shimmying wheel.