Why Are Bus Steering Wheels Big and Curved?

The steering wheel is the part of a car that we touch the most. When we need to make a sudden maneuver on the road, our steering wheel is also to comply with our guidelines. we want.

Big steering wheels on buses making maneuvers difficult If you think so, you are wrong. On the contrary, these steering wheels in buses make driving easier. Before we move on to how this happens, we need to explain a few details…

Let’s start by understanding what torque is.

In short, torque means turning force. The power transferred from your vehicle’s engine and steering wheel, wheels turning and changing direction. provides. This power transferred to the wheels determines the torque of the vehicle.

For example, if your vehicle is not struggling when there is an extra load or when going uphill, it means that the traction power and torque are high. In the same way, you can understand whether your vehicle has a high torque, no matter how low a speed you can go.

Much greater power is required to change the direction of a large vehicle.

Vehicles such as buses and trucks are much larger than daily vehicles. For example, a standard sized bus is approx. 18 thousand kilograms weighs. So to change the direction of such a large vehicle, you need much greater power.

Imagine that you are holding the middle of your car, not the steering wheel. It will be much more difficult for you to turn your vehicle during maneuvering. At this point you can understand why buses have large steering wheels. a large steering wheel, change direction more easily because it affects the torque of the vehicle. provides.

Suppose a vehicle of the same size has a small steering wheel.

This time you will have to turn the steering wheel much more, and perhaps your arms will ache before you reach your destination. This is because the force you apply has to turn the huge wheels on the buses. due to the inability to generate sufficient rotational power. originates.

In the same way a big steering wheel and small wheels also causes inconsistency. In such a case, since the engine torque to the wheels will be high, your vehicle may skid very quickly and you may lose your steering control.

Perhaps the most important reason for large steering wheels is that they are not hydraulic.

We all know that hydraulic steering wheels offer a more comfortable use. This is because power steering uses an external power source, unlike normal steering wheels. In this way, the force you have to apply while at the wheel is much less.

Some of the buses are relatively more small steering wheels The reason we see it is because they have power steering. Many buses and large vehicles in use today do not have power steering. So still man power more is needed.

So why are the steering wheels of buses positioned almost straight?

Buses’ wheels are much closer to the driver’s seat compared to everyday cars. For this reason, the steering wheel must be positioned at a different angle. To put it simply; between your steering wheel and your steering linkage a proportional slope has. This inclination has to vary according to the position of the wheel.

In other words, if you are sitting on the wheel, when you turn the steering wheel, the wheels need to be positioned more horizontally so that they can turn. In the image above to the steering port You can understand this situation by looking at it.

Another reason, of course, is that drivers can drive the car.

Considering that such large steering wheels are also positioned vertically; of the driver reaching the vehicle pedals almost impossible. Because if he is an above-average weight, his legs can get stuck between the seat and the steering wheel.

In other words, another reason why the steering wheels are positioned slightly inclined is that the drivers easier to control to ensure.

To summarize briefly; As we mentioned at the beginning of our article, large steering wheels do not make driving difficult. On the contrary, these large steering wheels have a very important place in large vehicles that do not have hydraulic technology.

Sources: JCBL, GoMechanic, NationalBus