Steering: Description and 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-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.