LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Freightliner Trucks announced today it will begin offering rack and pinion steering as an option on the Freightliner Century Class, Coronado, and Columbia, truck models as well as the Classic and Classic XL class 8 models later this year.

The company says rack and pinion steering, which increases control
and responsiveness, is lighter, and has fewer moving parts than the
integral gear steering system used on most heavy-duty trucks.

In addition to providing more accurate and responsive steering, Freightliner’s proprietary system is 45 pounds lighter than integral gear systems with spring suspensions, allowing for greater payloads. And because rack and pinion steering has fewer parts and pivot points, it offers more accurately controlled wheel direction, the company says,

According to Jonathan Randall, director of product marketing, the idea of using rack and pinion steering on heavy-duty trucks came from Freightliner engineers working with Pikes Peak Freightliner Century Class S/T racer Mike Ryan. “The lighter weight and extreme precision required to race up a 14,000-foot mountain are the same qualities needed by on-highway trucks to increase payload and maneuver through traffic or in cramped loading docks,” Randall said.

As the name implies, rack and pinion steering consists of two
components. The rack is a horizontal shaft with teeth, which intersects
the pinion at a 90-degree angle. Turning the steering wheel turns the
pinion, moving the rack to the left or right, thus steering the wheels.