{"id":105916,"date":"2024-05-02T17:17:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T00:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=105916"},"modified":"2024-10-25T08:44:32","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T15:44:32","slug":"a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/","title":{"rendered":"A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column105916_5313fd-f8 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-1bc55a  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-dd6df4\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading105916_33d71c-2e\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The steering linkage relays steering forces from the steering gear to the front wheels based on the driver&rsquo;s input from the steering wheel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A parallelogram steering linkage is the most common type of steering setup used in vehicles. In this system, the opposing sides are parallel at an equal distance, hence the name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A typical parallelogram steering linkage setup has a center link, tie rods, pitman arm, idler arm, and steering arms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>There are generally three types of steering linkage designs found in vehicles: parallelogram, cross-steer, and Haltenberger systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we&rsquo;ll focus on the parallelogram system, the type of steering linkage you&rsquo;ll find in most modern vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is a Parallelogram Steering Linkage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a parallelogram steering system, the opposing sides are parallel at an equal distance, hence the name. The steering linkage has an idler arm on the right side and a pitman arm on the left. These two components help stabilize the center link, preventing it from bobbing up and down while the vehicle travels over bumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"253\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/simplified-diagram-of-a-parallelogram-steering-system-1024x253.jpg\" alt=\"simplified diagram of a parallelogram steering system\" class=\"wp-image-106996\" style=\"width:1024px;height:253px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/simplified-diagram-of-a-parallelogram-steering-system-1024x253.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/simplified-diagram-of-a-parallelogram-steering-system-300x74.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/simplified-diagram-of-a-parallelogram-steering-system-768x190.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/simplified-diagram-of-a-parallelogram-steering-system-1536x380.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/simplified-diagram-of-a-parallelogram-steering-system-150x37.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/simplified-diagram-of-a-parallelogram-steering-system.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Simplified diagram of a parallelogram steering system | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does a Parallelogram Steering Linkage Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The pitman arm moves every time the steering wheel rotates. From the pitman arm, this steering movement is also transferred to the sector shaft, center link, and tie rods before reaching the steering knuckle on each front wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the idler arm supports the passenger side of the center link and keeps the steering linkage level with the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"545\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illustration-showing-parallelogram-steering-linkage-process-1024x545.jpg\" alt=\"illustration showing parallelogram steering linkage process\" class=\"wp-image-106997\" style=\"width:1024px;height:545px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illustration-showing-parallelogram-steering-linkage-process-1024x545.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illustration-showing-parallelogram-steering-linkage-process-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illustration-showing-parallelogram-steering-linkage-process-768x408.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illustration-showing-parallelogram-steering-linkage-process-1536x817.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illustration-showing-parallelogram-steering-linkage-process-150x80.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illustration-showing-parallelogram-steering-linkage-process.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The steering linkage relays steering forces from the steering wheel through the steering gear to the front wheels through the pitman arm, which is connected to the center link. The tie rods are connected from the center link to the wheel knuckles, which pivot on the steering axis formed by the upper and lower ball joints. The idler arm carries the end of the drag link nearest the non-driver side wheel. When the wheels are turned one way or another, the relationship of the pitman arm, the idler arm, and the center link will change from a square to a parallelogram. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parallelogram Steering Linkage Components<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A typical parallelogram steering linkage setup has the following parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/center-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Center link\">Center link<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/tie-rod-assembly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Tie rods\">Tie rods<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/tie-rod-end\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"tie rod ends\">tie rod ends<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/tie-rod-adjusting-sleeve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"tie rod adjusting sleeves\">tie rod adjusting sleeves<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/pitman-arm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Pitman arm\">Pitman arm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/idler-arm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Idler arm\">Idler arm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Right and left steering arms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Center Link<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The center link goes by many names, including &ldquo;drag link,&rdquo; &ldquo;connecting link,&rdquo; &ldquo;connecting rod,&rdquo; &ldquo;relay rod,&rdquo; and &ldquo;intermediate rod.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The center link transfers torque from the steering gear to the steering knuckles, moving the front wheels in the process. Without the center link, the driver won&rsquo;t be able to steer the vehicle in a certain direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The center link also plays an important role in maintaining wheel alignment. Together with the tie rods, the center link ensures that both front wheels turn at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A vehicle with a parallelogram steering linkage can either have a wear or non-wear center link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A wear center link usually comes with a ball-and-socket joint that can wear out after some time. Meanwhile, a non-wear center link has holes for fitting ball joint studs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tie Rods, Tie Rod Ends, and Tie Rod Adjusting Sleeves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Tie rods connect the steering rack to the steering knuckles.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column105916_3ccd05-ac kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id105916_2db763-bb alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column105916_0fdaa3-7a kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image105916_30d805-f6.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image105916_30d805-f6 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image105916_30d805-f6.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image105916_30d805-f6 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image105916_30d805-f6 figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image105916_30d805-f6 .image-is-svg, .kb-image105916_30d805-f6 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image105916_30d805-f6 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image105916_30d805-f6\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column105916_cbca9e-2a inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\nTie rods and steering knuckles are also used on rack and pinion systems, so they&rsquo;re not unique to parallelogram systems.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pitman Arm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The pitman arm is located on the left side of the steering linkage and is attached to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/steering-gearbox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"gearbox\">gearbox<\/a>. It connects the steering linkage to the steering column and turns the center link as the steering wheel moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Idler Arm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The idler arm keeps the center link parallel to the road surface. It also permits a swivel movement while preventing an up-and-down movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One end of the idler arm is usually attached to a vehicle&rsquo;s frame or chassis while the other end is connected to the center link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Right and Left Steering Arms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/steering-gear\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"steering gear\">steering gear<\/a> transfers torque to the steering arms, turning the wheels in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Service Life of Parallelogram Steering Components<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Steering components are built to last a long time, but they need to be replaced in some cases to restore your vehicle&rsquo;s good performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this table on how long the common steering components can last before needing a replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Part Name<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Estimated Service Life<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Idler arm<\/td><td>40,000-60,000 miles<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Outer tie rod ends<\/td><td>60,000-100,000 miles<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Inner tie rod ends<\/td><td>80,000-120,000 miles<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Center link<\/td><td>90,000-130,000 miles<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pitman arm&nbsp;<\/td><td>100,000-150,000 miles<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Note by Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician:<\/em><\/strong><em> Note that most vehicles driven on smooth roads may not ever need any of these parts. Rough roads or oversize tires wear the parts out much faster.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Diagnosing Steering Linkage Problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bent, broken, and binding components can easily cause steering problems. To check for steering linkage issues, perform a visual test to check for busted grease boots and bent parts, and then do a dry park check, an off ground check, and a jounce or rebound test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dry Park Check<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With the steering wheel unlocked for free turning, but with the engine not running, the transmission in park, and the park brake applied, have an assistant gently move the steering wheel back and forth while you watch all the steering parts using a bright light. You&rsquo;ll be able to find any worn out steering parts this way. The ball joints will need to be tested a different way, but you can check the tie rod ends and center link this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Off the Ground Check<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With the vehicle raised in the air, you can also grab the front wheels at the 9 and 3 o&rsquo;clock positions and check for worn tie rods, but somebody needs to be watching to see which part is worn out, including the pitman arm (when it has a joint) and the idler arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, grab each front wheel at the 12 and 6 o&rsquo;clock positions to check for possible ball joint problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jounce Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Park the vehicle on a hard, level surface. Keep the wheels straight and the steering wheel in the unlocked position. Then, make the vehicle bounce by applying force to the front bumper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep an eye on the steering wheel. It shouldn&rsquo;t move while the vehicle bounces up and down. If it does, inspect the steering linkage, suspension arm, or steering rack for bent components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Under-Vehicle Inspection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To perform a thorough under-vehicle inspection, it&rsquo;s recommended to hoist your vehicle to have a clear view of the parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, inspect each part that could have been damaged due to road debris or minor collisions on the roadway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step is to inspect the idler arm. Use a hand force of about 25 lbs. up and down the arm. The total movement shouldn&rsquo;t exceed 1\/4 in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Test all steering linkage components by hand, and check for vertical or side-to-side looseness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When testing tie rod ends, keep in mind that it&rsquo;s normal for them to rotate in their sockets. However, endplay in any tie rod should always be zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that the wheels should be straight when testing the components. Inspecting the steering linkage with the wheels turned can make some parts appear loose because of the angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Get a Quality Replacement Steering Linkage Components<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can imagine, keeping your parallelogram steering linkage setup in order means you have to keep all its components in good shape. If any of the parts in the setup are bent out of shape or otherwise deformed, then the parallelogram won&rsquo;t be properly aligned, leading to steering issues. Thankfully, you can find many of the different steering linkage components on CarParts.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a> has a wide range of quality aftermarket parts in our catalog. We offer parts at various prices from trusted manufacturers and suppliers to suit different budgets. If you have questions about our current deals and prices, you can always contact our helpful and friendly customer service team. They&rsquo;re happy to help around the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep your vehicle&rsquo;s steering linkage setup in tip-top shape. Buy replacement <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/center-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"center links\">center links<\/a> or other steering linkage components from CarParts.com today.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>There are generally three types of steering linkage designs found in vehicles: parallelogram, cross-steer, and Haltenberger systems. In this article,&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":105917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3755],"tags":[3828,3827,1731,3028,1219,4139,3545,1773],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":{"0":"post-105916","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-suspension","9":"tag-center-link","10":"tag-idler-arm","11":"tag-pitman-arm","12":"tag-steering-gear","13":"tag-steering-gearbox","14":"tag-tie-rod-adjusting-sleeve","15":"tag-tie-rod-assembly","16":"tag-tie-rod-end","17":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A parallelogram steering linkage is the most common type of steering setup. Learn all about its inner workings in this article.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A parallelogram steering linkage is the most common type of steering setup. Learn all about its inner workings in this article.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-03T00:17:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-25T15:44:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1364\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/thecpteam\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom, https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/CarPartscom, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"Richard McCuistian\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/richardmccuistian\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/McCuistian\"}],\"headline\":\"A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-03T00:17:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-25T15:44:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1417,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/05\\\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"center-link\",\"idler-arm\",\"pitman-arm\",\"steering-gear\",\"steering-gearbox\",\"tie-rod-adjusting-sleeve\",\"tie-rod-assembly\",\"tie-rod-end\"],\"articleSection\":[\"DIY\",\"Suspension\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/\",\"name\":\"A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages - In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/05\\\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-03T00:17:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-25T15:44:32+00:00\",\"description\":\"A parallelogram steering linkage is the most common type of steering setup. Learn all about its inner workings in this article.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/05\\\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/05\\\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":1364,\"caption\":\"parallelogram steering linkages explained\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"CarParts.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages - In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"A parallelogram steering linkage is the most common type of steering setup. Learn all about its inner workings in this article.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages - In The Garage with CarParts.com","og_description":"A parallelogram steering linkage is the most common type of steering setup. Learn all about its inner workings in this article.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/","og_site_name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","article_published_time":"2024-05-03T00:17:13+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-10-25T15:44:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2048,"height":1364,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@carpartscom","twitter_site":"@carpartscom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"CarParts.com Research Team","jobTitle":"Expert Automotive Writer","description":"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/thecpteam\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom, https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarPartscom, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/, https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom\/"},{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"Richard McCuistian","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian"}],"headline":"A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages","datePublished":"2024-05-03T00:17:13+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-25T15:44:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/"},"wordCount":1417,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg","keywords":["center-link","idler-arm","pitman-arm","steering-gear","steering-gearbox","tie-rod-adjusting-sleeve","tie-rod-assembly","tie-rod-end"],"articleSection":["DIY","Suspension"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/","name":"A Definitive Guide to Understanding Parallelogram Steering Linkages - In The Garage with CarParts.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg","datePublished":"2024-05-03T00:17:13+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-25T15:44:32+00:00","description":"A parallelogram steering linkage is the most common type of steering setup. Learn all about its inner workings in this article.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg","width":2048,"height":1364,"caption":"parallelogram steering linkages explained"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"CarParts.com","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","width":2048,"height":398,"caption":"CarParts.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/x.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/parallelogram-steering-linkages-explained.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-definitive-guide-to-understanding-parallelogram-steering-linkages\/"},"authors":[{"term_id":2607,"user_id":1651,"is_guest":0,"slug":"thecpteam","display_name":"CarParts.com Research Team","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""},{"term_id":2985,"user_id":1646,"is_guest":0,"slug":"richardmccuistian","display_name":"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105916\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105916"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=105916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}