corolla 2019

[Cbatoday]

Is the steering wheel in modern cars actually connected to 'the wheels' or is it just a sensor and a motor in both steering wheel and on the wheels

[estate]

Nearly all if not every modern car has Electric power steering (EPS). An electric motor that is mounted on either the steering column or steering gear (usually a rack-and-pinion setup these days) applies torque to the steering column, assisting the driver to turn the steering wheel. Sensors detect the position of the steering wheel and any input from the driver.

[chicken_george]

5 hours ago, Cbatoday said:

Is the steering wheel in modern cars actually connected to 'the wheels' or is it just a sensor and a motor in both steering wheel and on the wheels

Yes, otherwise you'd not be able to steer when you break down, winching onto a tow vehicle etc.

[Cbatoday]

17 hours ago, chicken_george said:

Yes, otherwise you'd not be able to steer when you break down, winching onto a tow vehicle etc.

How would new vehicles without steering wheels be winched onto a tow vehicle

 

[Gerg]

45 minutes ago, Cbatoday said:

How would new vehicles without steering wheels be winched onto a tow vehicle

With a great deal of care.

If it's of any use, this is an (eBay) picture is of an Auris electrically-assisted steering column, I doubt the Corolla is much different.

The left hand end of the assembly clamps directly to the, traditional-style rack, the r/h side attaches into the steering column height/length adjustment (not shown).  The motor, pointing diagonally upwards, is in the lowest part of the picture, it is geared to the shaft through a worm drive gear, it's at 90 degrees to the steering shaft.

HTH.