Although it’s not rocket science there are some aspects of geometry and physics.
Caster angle is an important aspect that is often overlooked but which is vital. It’s the angle of the steering wheel that affects how the car turns. This is not visible on the wheel, but on the components that control the steering. Learn Engineering YouTube provides a clear explanation of all the details (featured above in the video). While there are many benefits to the caster angle you can see that the front wheels will naturally reorient themselves to straight-on orientation if you release the steering wheel. Here’s why.
To allow the front wheels of the car to turn, they must be attached at a pivot point. It is not necessary for the point to be perpendicular with the ground. Instead, it is slightly angled backward. This angle is known as caster and it helps move the wheel’s rotation point forward relative to the ground. It doesn’t matter if the tire contacts the ground at the actual contact point. It’s still down. However, the centripetal force brings the wheel back straightens by moving the pivot point forward from the contact patch.
Caster angle has performance implications as well. The suspension can compress under high cornering loads. This can affect how the front wheels react at higher speeds on a track. Normal cars don’t have the ability to adjust their caster angle, but race cars may be able to do so depending on the track. This can increase cornering capability.
Nothing can kickstart a new year like some automotive tech. Make sure you use your knowledge.