Dry steering
Encyclopedia
Dry steering is the act of turning the steering wheel
or rotating the steer wheels of a vehicle on the Z axis by some other means, while the vehicle is stationary.
This action puts strain on the rack and pinion
, pump, tie rods, and bearings, especially causes undue wear
to the steer wheels, and can be exceptionally difficult in the absence of power-assisted steering. As such, driving instructors in the UK do not permit this act and instead teach the method of using clutch control
to move the vehicle at very low speed and fast steering to manoeuvre the vehicle out of tight situations. Dry steering is also not permitted on the UK practical driving test and will result in a minor or major fault, at the examiner's discretion.
Although in most modern cars the steering components are sturdy enough to handle dry steering without taking damage, it is still not recommended due to stronger tire wear. This is the reason why automatic parking systems
are usually designed not to dry steer, although their design would be somewhat simpler if they used dry steering.
Steering wheel
A steering wheel is a type of steering control in vehicles and vessels ....
or rotating the steer wheels of a vehicle on the Z axis by some other means, while the vehicle is stationary.
This action puts strain on the rack and pinion
Rack and pinion
A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. A circular gear called "the pinion" engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar called "the rack"; rotational motion applied to the pinion causes the rack to move, thereby...
, pump, tie rods, and bearings, especially causes undue wear
Wear
In materials science, wear is erosion or sideways displacement of material from its "derivative" and original position on a solid surface performed by the action of another surface....
to the steer wheels, and can be exceptionally difficult in the absence of power-assisted steering. As such, driving instructors in the UK do not permit this act and instead teach the method of using clutch control
Clutch control
Clutch control refers to the act of controlling the speed of a vehicle with a manual transmission by partially engaging the clutch plate, using the clutch pedal instead of the accelerator pedal. The purpose of a clutch is in part to allow such control; in particular, a clutch provides transfer of...
to move the vehicle at very low speed and fast steering to manoeuvre the vehicle out of tight situations. Dry steering is also not permitted on the UK practical driving test and will result in a minor or major fault, at the examiner's discretion.
Although in most modern cars the steering components are sturdy enough to handle dry steering without taking damage, it is still not recommended due to stronger tire wear. This is the reason why automatic parking systems
Automatic parking
Automatic parking is an autonomous car maneuvering from a traffic lane into a parking place to perform parallel parking, perpendicular or angle parking. The automatic parking aims to enhance the comfort and safety of driving in constrained environments where much attention and experience is...
are usually designed not to dry steer, although their design would be somewhat simpler if they used dry steering.