Fig. 8.1. Steering: 1 – right steering rod end; 2 – right steering rod; 3, 11 – protective covers; 4 – heat shield; 5 – intermediate shaft; 6 – steering column; 7 – steering column position lock lever; 8 – steering column shaft; 9 – sealing cover; 10 – steering mechanism; 12 – left steering rod end; 13 – left steering rod.
Ford Mondeo cars are equipped with a steering system (Fig. 8.1) with a rack and pinion steering mechanism equipped with a hydraulic booster and a trauma-safe steering column adjustable for tilt and reach. The steering drive consists of two steering rods connected by ball joints to the levers of the front suspension steering knuckles.
Steering wheel with driver's airbag, horn switch installed in the central pad of the steering wheel. Steering wheel hub is bolted to the steering column shaft.
Steering gear 10 is installed in the engine compartment and secured with bolts to the front suspension subframe.
The steering column 6 is trauma-safe, with a steering wheel position adjustment mechanism, equipped with energy-absorbing devices that increase passive safety, and an anti-theft device in the ignition switch that blocks the steering wheel shaft from turning. The steering column also houses controls for the headlights, turn signal, windshield washer and wiper.
Fig. 8.2. Power steering system: 1 – drain line; 2 – power steering system reservoir with working fluid; 3 – supply line; 4 – Power steering pump pulley; 5 – pressure main; 6 – steering mechanism; 7 – connecting tubes on the steering gear; 8 – Power steering pump; 9 – pressure relay in the power steering system.
Fig. 8.2 shows the design of the power steering system of a car with a Duratec-HE engine with a working volume of 2.0 liters. The systems of cars with other engines are practically identical, the only difference is in the relative position of the parts on the car.
The pressure of the working fluid in the power steering is created by a mechanical pump 8 of the blade type, which is installed on the engine and through the pulley 4 is driven by a common poly-V belt with the generator. The bypass valve installed in the pump maintains the required pressure of the working fluid in the power steering depending on the rotation frequency of the engine crankshaft.
The power steering reservoir 2 is installed in the engine compartment on a bracket attached to the right of the radiator frame and is connected by a hose 3 to the power steering pump 8 and to the working fluid return line 1. If the power steering fails, the ability to control the car is retained, but the force on the steering wheel increases.
Steering rods 2 and 13 (see Fig. 8.1) are attached to the steering rack by 6 ball joints. Ends 1 and 12 of the steering rods are attached to the steering knuckles of the front suspension by means of ball joints. The ends are secured against turning on the steering rods with lock nuts. The toe-in of the front wheels is adjusted by rotating the steering rod in the ball joint relative to the end.