Steering: Description and Operation
The steering system has a typical rack-and-pinion design consisting of the components shown.
The power steering system uses hydraulic pressure generated by the power steering pump to reduce the force required to turn the steering wheel. The steering gear is a hydraulic-mechanical unit that uses an input shaft/pinion and rack (sector shaft) to provide power-assisted steering control. The steering gear cannot be disassembled. It must be replaced as a unit.
Replaceable items on the steering gear are:
^ Tie rod ends.
^ Tie rod end jam nuts.
^ Front wheel spindle tie rods.
^ Front suspension steering ball stud dust seals.
^ Steering gear insulators.
^ Steering gear mounting brackets.
The steering column shaft, the steering column intermediate shaft coupling and the power steering gear input shaft transfer the rotary motion into side-to-side motion. The front wheel spindle tie rods and tie rod ends connect the steering gear to the front wheel knuckles. The front wheel knuckles convert the side-to-side motion into the pivoting of the wheels.
The power steering pump, which is driven by the crankshaft through a drive belt and pulleys, develops the hydraulic pressure necessary to operate the system. When the engine is running, fluid is drawn into the vane-type power steering pump from the power steering pump reservoir.
Hydraulic fluid is pressurized by the rotation of the rotor and vanes and is forced into the steering gear. When the steering wheel is turned, the steering gear converts this hydraulic pressure and flow into mechanical motion that will move the front wheels in the direction of the turn.
A Power Steering Pressure switch (PSP switch), located on the power steering pump, is normally closed. As the power steering load increases, the PSP switch signals the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to increase the idle speed.
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The steering linkage connects the steering gear to the front wheel knuckle. The steering linkage is adjustable at the two tie rod ends.