Fig. 231. Car steering: 1 — transverse steering rods; 2 - cuffs; 3 - steering mechanism; 4 - elastic coupling; 5 - steering column; 6 - steering wheel
The steering column is attached to the flexible coupling with a clamping plate at its lower part. The coupling is attached to the steering gear pinion with a mounting bolt. A special cuff on the car body seals the intermediate steering shaft guide. Most modern cars are equipped with a column adjustable in length and height, the position of which is fixed by means of a lever on its left side. Fig. 231 shows the steering of Ford Mondeo cars.
The principle of operation of the power steering is as follows: the engine, via a V-belt, drives a rotary pump, which pumps working fluid into the hydraulic drive. In this case, the toothed rack in the hydraulic drive acts as a piston, supplying fluid under pressure. When the steering wheel is turned, the control valve block regulates the direction and flow rate of the fluid. Excess fluid flows back into the compensation tank, which is installed in the engine compartment and connected to the pump with a hose. It is imperative that you repair the power steering at a specialized service station. The power steering system uses the same fluid as the automatic transmission.
Warning: Your safety and the safety of other road users depend on the quality of your steering operation. Perform the operation with the utmost care and attention.