Steering Made Easy

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ integrated solution offers significant improvements compared with separate bearings and seals. The rigidity of the integrated plastic bearing is higher so that its deflection is reduced by nearly 50 percent when lateral forces are exerted. This reduces the induced vibrations to increase the steering comfort for the driver. The seal, on the other hand, has 35 percent less friction, which reduces resistance during steering – especially important for highly automated driving. The weight of the overall solution is reduced by as much as 80 percent through integration. Freudenberg’s patented plastic bearing plays a major role in achieving these component breakthroughs.

Automotive safety applications are subject to many requirements which individual manufacturers define according to their own specifications. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies used common specifications – a temperature resistance of -40 to +125 degrees Celsius under mechanical stress, for example – to test its integrated component during the past year. Extreme cases, such as direct exposure to high water pressure, which can occur in practice during engine washing, were also tested. The seal that includes an integrated bearing proved itself in all tests. “We can now commence with customer-specific series development at any time,” says Freudenberg expert Frank Schönberg.

Product experts at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies are already researching additional industrial applications for the new component. In addition to automotive applications, seals with integrated plastic bearings can likely bring benefits to many industrial operations. Freudenberg is also looking to the manufacturing process for further innovation: If the seal/bearing unit is currently still being assembled, it could be produced using new materials in an integrated two-component injection molding process in the future.