Steering: Description and Operation

GENERAL DESCRIPTION





Mechanical Operation
The steering gear is mounted in the left front area of the engine compartment, and is connected to the intermediate shaft. Rotation of the steering wheel moves a spool valve in the steering gear, which is directly linked to the pitman arm.





Hydraulic Operation
Hydraulic pressure is used to reduce driver effort required to steer the vehicle. The power steering pump is mounted on the forward lower-right side of the engine, and is driven by a V-ribbed drive belt from the crankshaft pulley. The pump is a vane-type pump with output proportional to speed of rotation. A flow control valve, integral to the pump, limits the flow of fluid to that required for steering.
A pressure relief valve is built into the flow control valve to limit the maximum pressure applied to the power steering system.
Output pressure from the pump is directed to a spool valve inside the steering gear. Steering wheel motion moves the spool to direct hydraulic pressure to the appropriate side of a piston.