Induction hardening of steering racks for electric power steering systems

“Power-on-Demand”, maximum mileage, and more functionality – modern automotive steering systems need to offer all this, while being maintenance-free and low-weight at the same time. Most vehicles already use electric power steering to assist the steering movement, allowing for easy manoeuvring for parking or at low speeds. The core component of these complex steering systems is the steering rack, which is heavily loaded during use. Induction hardening increases steering rack wear resistance and service life. This article describes design features of electromechanical steering systems and the resulting demands on the steering racks. Various induction hardening methods and hardening machine types will be presented.