Steering column

A common device to enhance car safety is the collapsible steering column.The wavelike protrusions on the circumference of the tolerance ring act as a spring to hold the two parts in place in normal driving conditions.At a specific level of force, for example in the event of a collision, the tolerance ring allows the inner shaft to slip inside the housing, so the column can collapse, absorbing energy from the impact.[2] In virtually all modern vehicles, the lower section of the inner shaft is articulated with universal joints which helps control movement of the column in a frontal impact, and also gives engineers freedom in mounting the steering gear itself.In the United States, steering columns are governed by several federal regulatory requirements, notably FMVSS 108, 114 and 208.