• At the moment of a collision, the rearward collapse of the steering gear and linkage (first stage impact) takes in the impact energy from the front, causing the intermediate shaft connecting the steering gear and linkage with the steering shaft to contract, thereby absorbing the impact energy.
• Then, as the steering wheel contacts the body of the driver (second stage impact), force applied to the steering wheel is transmitted through the inner shaft, outer column, and fixing bracket. As a result, the fixing bracket is disengaged from the instrument panel member, and the whole steering shaft will move forward. At this moment, the energy absorb plate, which is fixed to the instrument panel member at one end and held by the fixing bracket at the other, will deform and absorb the impact.
