Power Steering Gear

The power steering gear has a recirculating ball system which acts as a rolling thread between the worm shaft and the rack piston. The worm shaft is supported by a preloaded thrust bearing and two conical thrust races at the lower end, and a bearing assembly in the adjuster plug at the upper end When the worm shaft is turned right, the rack piston moves up in the gear. Turning the worm shaft left moves the rack piston down in the gear. The rack piston teeth mesh with the sector, which is part of the pitman shaft turning the worm shaft turns the pitman shaft, which turns the wheels through the steering linkage.

The control valve in the steering gear directs the power steering fluid to either side of the rack piston. The rack piston converts the hydraulic pressure into a mechanical force. If the steering system loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle can be controlled manually.