For a long time, 1 1/8″ was the go-to head tube size in the bike market, but as time goes on, the 1 1/8-1.5″ Tapered has become the new standard for a few years now.

If you bought your bike three or four years ago (or later), then most likely you have an old type of headset, and it’s not easy to install a new fork with a tapered stem.

This applies to those who planned to upgrade their simple imitator fork to a decent air one over time. Nowadays, the leading manufacturers of bike shock absorbers have almost completely switched to the new Tapered standard, and it has become difficult to buy the right option.

More precisely, the old standard 1 1/8″ forks are still on sale, but mostly these are old models, and the choice is very small, while the prices for new options with a Tapered stem can be cheaper. This was already the case with the 1″ headset size, forks under that standard first became a shortage, and then exotic.

But if then it was simply physically impossible to insert a thicker stem of a new fork into the old head tube, now everything is much easier - a fork with a 1 1/8-1.5″ tapered stem can be put into a regular 1 1/8″ head tube. I will write about this a little lower, but for now let's talk about why the size of the steering wheel changes in general.

Size 1 ″ left the scene at one time for the same reason - a small diameter pipe does not give acceptable rigidity in control - the fork “walks” with active braking and taxiing, and the more the rider weighs, the more it feels.

The steerer stem size of the new forks remains the same 1 1/8" at the top while the bottom has been enlarged to 1.5". The larger diameter of the stem and head tube gave the necessary rigidity.

Is it necessary for a simple skater - perhaps not, in my opinion, he does not ride a bicycle in such modes when the lack of rigidity of the steering rod can be clearly felt. Therefore, we will consider this to be the next marketing ploy for the main market of mountain bikes.

Although I will say that for athletes and those who ride hard and aggressively, the new size turned out to be the topic - especially in combination with the 15mm axle in the front hub, the bike began to behave more predictably.

Tapered steerer fork

However, no matter how hard marketers try to put us on new bikes because of the impossibility of upgrading, there is a way out. At least one I know of is for owners of bikes with semi-integrated 44mm headsets (a very common headset).

So, if you want to put a tapered steerer fork in your frame with a conventional headset, then this one can help you wonderful steering wheel from NukeProof.

The top cup is regular 1 1/8, but the bottom cup is 1.5 outside, and it all fits into a regular cylindrical head tube. The main condition is that your bike must have a head tube specifically for a semi-integrated head tube with an internal size of 44mm, ZS (ZeroStack) standard.

I know for a lot of cyclists head tube standards are a dark forest, but if you want to upgrade your forks, you have to figure it out, it's easy.

What are the steering columns on a bicycle

In general, there are a lot of standards for steering, I will describe only a few of the most common among mountain bikes.

Semi-integrated ZeroStack (ZS) headset

It is easy to distinguish this type of steering wheel - between the plastic protection and the steering cup you will see a metal insert - this is the cup where the bearing lies. In the picture below, the cup is red.

In the steering cup, under the cups (top and bottom), seats are machined, where they are pressed. Bearings, open ball or closed industrial, are inserted into the cups, and all this is clamped by offset through spacer rings.

There is also a similar design, I don’t even know exactly what it’s called, the cups are also pressed into the steering cup, but unlike the ZS, the bearings are not hidden inside the cup, but are located outside, which is why the diameter of the pipe is smaller than the diameter of the cups.

Integrated steering

This type of steering differs from the previous one in that there are no cups - seats for cartridge bearings are machined right in the steering cup itself.

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I know there are other ways to put a tapered fork on a regular frame, at least I've heard of a Cane Creek lower head tube that accepts a 1.5″ taper stem.

Also, if there is a need to put a fork with a regular 1 1/8 stem in a frame with a tapered head tube, then there are adapters, but they didn’t come across my eyes, who knows, write in the comments.

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Perhaps, many have heard what a power steering is, and they know what it is for. Nevertheless, the topic, which reveals in more detail the principle of operation and purpose of this device, is still relevant.

Equipment that allows you to easily turn the steering wheel consists of the following elements:

• pump, usually rotary type;
• various tubes and hoses;
• a tank in which special oil is poured.

Power steering is not simple in design and needs periodic maintenance. However, this device is reliable, and if its condition is monitored and the slightest flaws are eliminated in a timely manner, then it will last long enough and will not require serious repairs. It should be noted that the installation of a power steering is expensive, which is explained by the complex structure of this mechanism and the complexity of the installation itself.

What is "Light Steering"

Currently, additional equipment called "Light steering wheel" is especially popular with owners of the domestic auto industry. This mechanism is a modernized regular gearbox. In terms of its external characteristics, it looks like a regular power steering, however, its internal structure differs from its factory counterparts.

In its design there is a third support designed for the shaft. It reduces the sensitivity of impacts transmitted to the steering wheel and reduces the bending moment. Needle bearings came to replace the bronze bushings that had previously stood, thanks to which the service life of such a gearbox increased.

In addition, ball bearings are embedded in the pendulum linkage of the so-called steering linkage, which are installed in the device instead of the plastic bushings used previously. Thanks to ball bearings, the wear of parts and their friction against each other has significantly decreased. This makes the pendulum arm very durable. It can be argued that the whole car is more likely to become unusable than this mechanical unit.

Installation of power steering on VAZ cars

Installation of this mechanism on the car does not cause any difficulties. Before installing the power steering, no adjustments are required. Perhaps the main advantage of this device is that for its installation it will not be necessary to drill any holes and figure out how to introduce additional brackets for its fastening into the engine compartment.

Both the pendulum lever and the gearbox are mounted in regular places. You just need to unscrew the nuts, disconnect the old mechanism and install a new product. The only difficulty that can be encountered when installing the amplifier is the removal of the cotter pins from the steering rods, but this problem awaits only those who have not replaced the steering rods for a long time.

If you decide to do the installation of this type of power steering yourself, then the whole procedure will take you no more than three hours. It all depends on the experience that you have in car repair, and the availability of the necessary tools at hand. The installation time of such a mechanism in a specialized car service varies from two or more hours, but if you wish, you can do everything on your own and avoid unnecessary costs.

Advantages of power steering for VAZ

It should be noted that no changes to the engine compartment are required to install the "Easy Steering Wheel". Improved design features are placed inside the gearbox housing and hidden from prying eyes. Thus, when passing a technical inspection, the traffic police officer will not be able to prove that you interfered in the structure of the car in an unauthorized way.

Having learned how to install a power steering and the cost of these works, it is possible that many VAZ car owners will opt for the Easy Steering wheel equipment, which is characterized by the following advantageous characteristics:

• does not require the presence of special skills and abilities during its installation;
• reduces by almost half the efforts that are made by the driver to turn the steering wheel;
• does not need additional maintenance during a long period of operation;
• differs in reliability and durability;
• does not make visible changes to the design of the car.

The only drawback that the "Easy steering wheel" has is its inconspicuous work when parking. However, this disadvantage can be put up with when at higher speeds the car becomes more maneuverable and manageable.

In a word, a modernized standard gearbox will bring pleasant changes to your car, and not so much money will be needed to purchase and install it.

Video

This video shows how the power steering is installed on the Niva:

During the operation of the car, car owners may need to replace the steering wheel. Often this happens during tuning work on the interior of the car. In this case, the driver is looking for the steering wheel that suits him the most while driving, for which he will be pleased to hold on and turn comfortably during maneuvers. At the same time, there are times when the steering wheel simply breaks. Most often, the plastic or polyurethane shell around the metal frame of the steering wheel cracks.

Purpose and design

The shape of the steering wheel in the form of a wheel was first used in the design of a car in 1898. Designers have since worked hard to come up with various solutions in the design of this important part of the car.

Functionally, the steering wheel is designed to control movement vehicle in the direction given to them. It is on the steering wheel, as part of the control system, that the driver acts in order to transmit a control signal to the steering rods in order to change the direction of movement.

All models of the steering wheel are characterized by common design features:

• In the middle of the steering wheel, in its inner part, there is a hub with which this device is attached to the steering column.
• The outer rim is the control part of this whole device. It is for him that the driver holds on and, acting on him, transmits torque to steering column and through it directly to the steering rods.
• The outer rim and the hub are interconnected by spokes, which can be in the form of pins or plates, and there can also be two, three or four of them in number.

The size of the steering wheel mounted on the car depends largely on whether the car is equipped with a power steering system, hydraulic or electric.

On older models of cars, especially American ones, the gear lever was mounted almost directly in the steering wheel.

On modern steering wheels of many cars, buttons are placed to control various automotive systems. The sound signal is also an integral attribute of this device, only the placement of the control of this signal is different. In almost all car models, the turn, light and wiper control switches are mounted together with the steering wheel. And when you need to replace the steering wheel, it becomes necessary to dismantle these devices.

Replacement steps

Before proceeding with the procedure for replacing the steering wheel, the car owner needs to seriously think about what type of this device is needed for the car. Many are inclined to put a sports steering wheel on their car. Of course, appearance such a device attracts attention. Small in diameter, thickened, with curly notches that make it convenient to grip the steering wheel, it is most often made of elastic, pleasant to the touch materials. However, this is not always a wise decision.

On a car without power steering in the control system while driving around the city, a larger diameter steering wheel is most convenient. By rotating such a wheel, the driver has to make less effort to complete a complex maneuver.

Another important condition that must be observed when choosing and buying a steering wheel. It is necessary to check the attachment point on the hub of the new device to the steering column of the car on which the steering wheel is being replaced. This design is often made exclusively for a specific car model and does not have a unified connection.

In addition, on many models of cars on the steering wheels there are switches and buttons for controlling various automotive systems. Such steering wheels are called multifunctional. Therefore, only unique devices are suitable for such cars, since it is very difficult to remake the control scheme of automotive systems.

When buying a new steering wheel, you need to imagine how convenient it will be placed in the cab, whether it will become a hindrance to the driver.
Having picked up a device that is suitable in all respects, you can begin to replace it. No special conditions are required to be observed. Mandatory requirements will be:

• it is necessary to fix the car on a horizontal surface with a handbrake and the first speed turned on when the engine is not running; for insurance, it is desirable to install mechanical stops under the wheels;
• be sure to de-energize the automotive systems by removing the terminals from the battery.

1. To properly install the new steering wheel, remove the key from the lock and turn the wheel to lock it in the locking anti-theft device. After that, put marks on the instrument panel and steering wheel. This is necessary for the new device to be installed correctly.
2. If there are screws fixing the signal buttons or the pads on the hub, you need to unscrew them.
3. Using a screwdriver, pry off and remove the plastic or polyurethane cover covering the hub.
4. Remove horn trim. If this is a more complex design, then disconnect the contact chip and the airbag unit, which should be laid with the lining down.

1. Remove the old wheel and install the new steering wheel, assembling all the parts in reverse order.

The steering wheel has been replaced. To check the correctness of the work performed, it is necessary to align the wheels.

The first week after changing the steering wheel, you should not drive at high speed in order to get used to the new sensations and prevent an accident.

See also video

It seems that in the last couple of weeks from our articles you have learned almost everything about the helmsmen. We wrote about how to eliminate backlash in and in, oh, and about that. In this article, we will talk about how to install a new helmsman, closing the issue of servicing helmsmen in general.

The article addresses the following questions:

Tool

Installation algorithm

Summarizing

Tool

In order to press the steering wheel you will need:

Grease

Installation algorithm

Step 1

Use a rag to remove any old grease and grime from your frame's head tube. Do not forget to clean the ends of the steering. Along the way, prepare your steering wheel by laying it out somewhere nearby.

Step 2

Using grease, thoroughly lubricate the headset cups and seat for it in the frame.

Step 3

If you carefully read our topic about standards, then you know that just inserting a cup into a head tube will not work, since the cup is a couple of tenths of a millimeter larger than the seat in the glass. This is done so that the steering sits as tightly as possible and does not become loose, thereby spoiling the glass and your frame. Place the top cup on the steering cup and use a tool to press it into the cup.. Important! With each turn of the pressing tool, check that there is no misalignment in the movement of the cup. . The cup should go in evenly. That's why place the cups one by one! Make sure the cup fits snugly inside and there are no gaps between it and the end of the steerer tube.

Step 4

Press in the bottom cup. The rules are the same as for the top. Check the skew and the full installation of the cup inside.

Step 5

Do not forget about the lower thrust ring, which is put on the fork stem. Due to the bulge on the stem, it is difficult to put it on, but a tube of a suitable diameter and a hammer will help. Never hit the thrust ring directly with a hammer, as this may damage its working surface.! Install the rest of the steering on top and you're done!

How to make your own pressing tool

We would do you a disservice by forcing you to buy the Park Tool HHP-2 press tool used in the article, because it costs about $150. In this case, you can cheat by making such a tool yourself. All you need is a long threaded stud, a couple of nuts and a couple of washers. The diameter and dimensions are not that important in principle, the main thing is that your stud fits into the head tube and withstands when you tighten the nuts. Most likely you have already figured out what the final product will look like, right? We have a small animation for clarity:

Outcome

Pressing the steering wheel is not such a laborious process as it might seem at first glance. The main thing here is careful preparation and attentiveness. Do not try to install both cups at the same time, this will only cause distortion and unnecessary problems. Follow the instructions and you will be fine.

Power steering (GUR) is a very useful addition to any modern car. GUR is designed for:

• facilitating the process of driving a car (especially when driving at low speed with active maneuvering),
• increasing the maneuverability of the machine,
• reducing vibration on the steering wheel when driving on rough roads (this is very noticeable when driving on the "track"),
• improving driving safety.

Certainly, you can drive without power steering, but in this case, the driver will not taste all the charm of driving his "iron horse".

The absence of such an option as a power steering is especially acute when maneuvering in yards, when parking a car, in these cases the driver has to make great physical efforts on the steering wheel.

And if suddenly, the driver, when maneuvering, was a little distracted, for a moment loosened his grip on the steering wheel, or his hand simply did not hold the steering wheel in the right position, then the wheels of the car can spontaneously turn at an unpredictable angle and this can lead to a collision with an obstruction to be avoided, the wheel falling into a pit .

As a result - repair of the wheel (or even its replacement), spoiled mood, spent money and nerves. Power steering installation will remove such inconvenience instantly, and the driver driving the car, "taxiing" even on the spot, will absolutely not tire.

On the contrary, many drivers enjoy driving a car with one finger, so to speak, when the driver, with almost no effort on the steering wheel, maneuvers around obstacles with incredible ease.

Car owners may have this question Is it possible to put a power steering on cars of earlier years of production, where it was not provided by the manufacturer?

Of course, power steering can be installed on almost any vehicle - on a car and a truck, on front- and rear-wheel drive, on SUVs and, of course, on cars with different types of steering: worm, rack and pinion, etc.

In technical terms, there are no difficulties in installing the power steering. Naturally, provided that the installation and adjustment will be done by a qualified specialist at the service station.

During operation, power steering maintenance consists only in replacing the working fluid and it is performed infrequently, approximately every 3-4 years of operation.

Structurally, the power steering consists of:

• a pump powered by a car engine - which creates and maintains the necessary pressure in the system and the circulation of the working fluid (special oil),
• distributor,
• power cylinder,
• hydraulic systems (tank and connecting hoses), filled with special oil.

Can you drive without power steering?? The answer is simple and obvious - yes, but why? After all, the advantages for its installation are so obvious. And finally, by installing power steering on your car, the car owner will simply fall in love with his “swallow”.