AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS BY STUDENTS AND TEACHER OF CETPRO PEDRO PAULET

Knowledge of Automotive Steering Systems

What is the function of an automotive steering?
The Automotive Steering System changes the direction of the vehicle as well as its trajectory. The driver, through the
action of the steering wheel, can control the direction of the vehicle's front tires. A steering system must have
appropriate operating force, stable grip characteristics, sufficient effort and driving safety.

What are the characteristics of an automotive steering?

a) Appropriate force for steering.
The steering force of the steering wheel must have a stable pitch when the vehicles are traveling in a straight
line and must be light enough to allow good handling when the vehicle is driving around a curve or parking
somewhere.
b) Stable address.
When the vehicle has finished turning a corner, it is necessary for the steering system to recover its straight
line posture and then recover the forward force of the tires, for which the driver only slightly releases his grip
on the steering wheel. . Also, while driving, the steering wheel will not pull on the driver's hands when the
wheels hit something in the road or transmit vibrations to the driver's hands.
c) Security.
In the event that a collision occurs, the steering system will have a construction which will lessen the severity of
the damage as much as possible by absorbing the impact and cushioning it.

What are the types of automotive steering?

1.- Unassisted Directions (Mechanical rack, Mechanical steering box
(Manual steering rack and Pinion and Manual steering gear box)
These directions are known as mechanical, it is because turning the steering wheel depends on the physical
effort of the driver. The most common are Rack (rack and pinion) for light vehicles, and Steering Box (sector
and endless recirculating balls) for semi-heavy vehicles. In these cases there is no hydraulic system, no electric
motor, or electronic motor to help the driver turn the steering wheel. Only the steering contains a gear
mechanism, bearings and greased bushings.
a) Mechanical or Manual Rack (rack and pinion).
b) Mechanical or Manual Steering Box (sector and recirculating ball worm).
c) There are many more types but these are the most common on the market for light duty vehicles.

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2.- Steering Assisted by: Hydraulic Rack, Electrohydraulic
Steering, Electric Steering Column, Electromechanical Rack,
Hydraulic Steering Box.
Power steering has an external system that reduces the driver's effort to turn the vehicle's
steering wheel.
There are several types of power steering:
1.- Hydraulic Rack : This is assisted by a hydraulic steering pump system, which works through a
pulley and a band (belt) that is connected to the vehicle's engine. This hydraulic pump assists a
hydraulic rack (rack and pinion).
2.- Electrohydraulic Steering : this is assisted by an electronic or electric hydraulic steering pump
system (this is powered by an electric motor controlled by an electronic module). This hydraulic
pump assists a hydraulic rack (rack and pinion).
3.- Electric Steering Column or Electric Assisted Column : it is assisted by a steering column with an
electric motor controlled by an electronic module and a torque sensor.
This electric steering column supports a mechanical or manual rack (rack and pinion).
4.- Electromechanical Rack : this is a mechanical or manual rack, assisted by an electric motor
integrated into the rack mechanism and controlled by an electronic module and a torque sensor.
There are several types depending on the manufacturer, but in all of them the electric motor is
mounted on the rack.
5.- Hydraulic Steering Box: this is assisted by a hydraulic steering pump system, which works
through a pulley and a band (belt) that is connected to the vehicle's engine. This hydraulic pump
assists a hydraulic steering box (sector and recirculating ball worm) and there are several other
types of hydraulic steering boxes, but less common on the market.

Below are the most common types on the market:

a) Power Steering Rack and Pinion

Its main virtue is that the driver does not have to exert excessive force on the steering wheel,
which allows the driver to react to unforeseen events and easily perform maneuvers at low
speeds.
The Hydraulic Rack Steering System works through a hydraulic steering pump, which
pressurizes a liquid fluid (hydraulic oil) and is sent through tubes and hoses to the hydraulic
rack.
Inside, there is a piston with oil seals that, upon receiving this pressure, drive the mechanism
that connects the hydraulic rack to the wheels through a valve. All of this is activated only
when the car's engine is on, because the power steering pump works mechanically with the
movement of the vehicle's engine.

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Common hydraulic racks have better control when parking since they do not require any
effort, however at high speeds it requires greater control of the steering wheel.
So, the challenge for manufacturers was to create a hydraulic rack that would adapt to
different driving conditions, one of the results to this problem was modified with an EVO
Steering System, which means Electronically Variable Bore Steering. This system reduces the
pressure that passes through the valve and thus reduces hydraulic assistance (the steering
wheel does not move easily) when driving at high speeds. It would take up a lot of space to
mention which vehicles have this system, but all light vehicles with hydraulic racks have it and
within this group not all have the EVO system, but there are still some vehicles in 2015.

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b) Electrohydraulic Steering System EHPAS (Electro-Hydraulic Power
Assisted Steering)
It is the same as the hydraulic rack, but the big difference is that the hydraulic steering pump
is driven by an electric motor controlled by an electronic module, which only works when the
steering wheel needs to be moved to avoid driver effort, in Instead of the power steering
pump always working mechanically with the movement of the vehicle's engine.
These are the most common vehicles that have this Electrohydraulic Steering
System:
AUDI A1 10-13
AUDI A2 00-05
CHEVROLET / OPEL ASTRA G 99-05; ZAFIRA 99-05; ASTRA H 04-06
CHEVROLET VECTRA 02-08
CHRYSLER 300 11-13
DODGE CHARGER 11-13
DODGE DURANGO 12-14
FORD FOCUS ST 07-13
JEEP CHEROKEE 3.6L 11-14
MAZDA 3 04->>
MAZDA 5 06-10
MERCEDES BENZ “A” CLASS A160 98-05; A190 01-05;
MERCEDES BENZ “ML” CLASS ML300, ML350, ML450 06->>
MERCEDES BENZ “GLK” CLASS 2008
MERCEDES BENZ “CL” CLASS 11->>
MINICOOPER 01-07
NISSAN ALTIMA 13-14
NISSAN PATHFINDER 13-15
PEUGEOT 307 00-09
PEUGEOT 308 08->>
PEUGEOT 3008 11-13
PEUGEOT 407 04-10
PEUGEOT RCZ
RENAULT CLIO II AND KANGOO (SOME CASES)
RENAULT SAFRANE 13-15
SAAB 9-3 02->>
SEAT IBIZA 03-13;
SEAT CORDOBA 03-13;
SUZUKI SX4 2007
VOLVO C30 06->>; S40 05->>; V50 04->>; V60 11->>; S60 11-14; V70 11->>; XC70 11>>
VOLKSWAGEN CROSSFOX 07-13
VOLKSWAGEN LUPO 05-09
VOLKSWAGEN POLO 02-07
VOLKSWAGEN POLO 13->>
VOLKSWAGEN SPORTVAN 07-13

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c) Electric Steering Column System or Column Assisted Electric Power Steering,
EPS, (Electric Power Steering or Column Assisted Electric Power Steering)
This Electric Steering Column is assisted by an electric motor controlled by an electronic
module and a torque sensor, it works only when the steering wheel needs to be moved to
avoid driver effort, it is normally installed and integrated into the steering wheel column.
address. And the rack is completely mechanical or manual, used in light vehicles. We call this
system Electric Steering Column.
These are the most common vehicles with Electric Steering Column System:
ALFA ROMEO MITO 12-13
AUDI Q7 10-13
BUICK ENCORE 14->>
BMW Z4 03-09
CHEVROLET CAPTIVA 2.4L 08-12
CHEVROLET COBALT 05-09
CHEVROLET CORSA HB 1.4L
CHEVROLET EQUINOX 3.4L 05-08
CHEVROLET HHR 06-11
CHEVROLET MALIBU 04-12
CHEVROLET TRAX 14->>
DODGE ATTITUDE 06-14
FORD ESCAPE 07-12
FORD FIESTA 11->>
FIAT 500 09-13
FIAT BRAVO SPORT 2009
FIAT IDEA ADVENTURE 08-09
FIAT GRANDE PUNTO 06-09
FIAT PANDA 07-12
FIAT STILO 2007
HONDA HR-V 16->>
HYUNDAI AZERA 13-14
HYUNDAI i10 12->>
HYUNDAI ix35 14->>>
HUYNDAI ELANTRA 07-14
HYUNDAI SONATA 11-14
KIA CADENZA 14->>
KIA OPTIMA 12->>
KIA RIO 07-12
MAZDA 2 11-13
MAZDA 3 14->>
MAZDA 6 14->>

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Continued from previous page...
These are the most common vehicles with Electric Steering Column System:
MAZDA TRIBUTE 08-12
MITSUBISHI ASX 13->>
MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 14->>
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER 13->>
NISSAN CUBE 09-13
NISSAN JUKE 11->>
NISSAN LEAF 13->>
NISSAN MARCH 10->>
NISSAN MICRA 05-07
NISSAN ROGUE 08-13
NISSAN SENTRA 07-14
NISSAN TIIDA 07-13
NISSAN VERSA 07->>
NISSAN X-TRAIL 08-13
PONTIAC G5 05-10
PONTIAC G6 05-10
PONTIAC TORRENT 06-09
RENAULT EUROCLIO 1.6L 07-09
RENAULT FLUENCE 11-13
RENAULT KOLEOS 09-13
RENAULT MEGANE 02-09
RENAULT SCENIC 02-09
SMART
SUZUKI SWIFT 11->>
TOYOTA AVANZA 12-14
TOYOTA COROLLA 09-14
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 08-13
TOYOTA MATRIX AWD 09->>
TOYOTA PRIUS 10->>
TOYOTA RAV4 06-12
TOYOTA YARIS 03-12
TOYOTA SIENNA 11-13
SCION 08->>
VW LUPO 3L 1.2L TDI 1999-05

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d) Electromechanical Steering System EPAS, EPS (with integrated electronic
motor) (Electric Power Assisted Steering)
This type of electromechanical steering is assisted by an electric motor controlled by an
electronic module and a torque sensor. There are many types that each manufacturer makes
differently depending on their vehicles. But there are rack and pinion, worm screw with band
(belt), etc. But in all cases the electronic motor is integrated directly into the mechanical rack
mechanism. It is used in light vehicles and pick-up trucks.
These are the most common vehicles with the Electromechanical Steering
System:
ACURA ILX 13->>
ACURA NSX 04-05
ACURA RLX 14->>
ACURA TL 09-12
ACURA TSX 09-13
ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA 12-13
AUDI A3 02->>
AUDI A4 2.0L TDI 13->>
AUDI A5 2.0L TDI 12-13
AUDI A6 2.0LY 3.0L TDI /S6 12-14
AUDI Q3 12-14
AUDI S3 08-14
AUDI S6 2.0LY 3.0L TDI 12-14
AUDI TT 08-13
AUDI TTS 09-13
AUDI TTRS 12-13
BUICK LACROSSE 13-15
BUICK REGAL 13-15
BUICK SUMMER 12->>
BMW 116i 12-12
BMW 116D 13-13
BMW 118i 1.6L 12-13
BMW 118d 12->>
BMW 120D 14->>
BMW 125i 3.0L 08-13
BMW 130i 06-09
BMW 320i 13->>
BMW 328i 2.0L 12-13
BMW SERIES 1 AND SERIES 3 06->>
BMW 528i 09-12; 535i 09-13; 550i 11-13;
BMW 650i 10-12
BMW 740i 12-13

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Continued from previous page...
These are the most common vehicles with the Electromechanical Steering
System:
BMW X3 11->>
BMW Z4 10->>
CADILLAC ATS 13-15
CHEVROLET CAMARO 10-13
CHEVROLET CRUZE 11->>
CHEVROLET ORLANDO 13-15
CHEVROLET PICK-UP, CHEYENNE AND SILVERADO 13->>
CHEVROLET MALIBU 13->>
DODGE DART 13->>
DODGE RAM 1500 PICK-UP 13->>
FORD ESCAPE 13->>
FORD EXPLORER 11-13
FORD F-150 AND FORD LOBO PICK-UP 11->>>
FORD EXPEDITION 15->>
FORD FOCUS 12->>
FORD FUSION 10->>
FORD MUSTANG 11->>
FORD TAURUS SHO 10->>
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 03-12
HONDA CIVIC SI 02-09
HONDA CR-V 12-13
HONDA CR-Z 11-13
HONDA FIT 06->>
HONDA S2000 00-09
LEXUS RX400H 06-09; RX350 10-12; RX450H 10-12;
LEXUS LS460 07-15, GS460 08-12
LINCOLN MKT 10->>
LINCOLN MKZ 13-14
MAZDA RX-8 04-05
MERCEDES BENZ B200 06-12
MERCEDES BENZ “CLA” CLASS 13-16
MERCEDES BENZ “ML” CLASS 12-16; ML350, ML500 12-16;
MERCURY MILAN 10->>
MINICOOPER 07->>
NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID 07-09
PEUGEOT 207 08-11 (SOME)
PORSCHE 911 -991 12->>
SEAT ALTEA 05-12
SEAT ALTEA XL 08-13
SEAT LEON 06-13

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Continued from previous page...
These are the most common vehicles with the Electromechanical Steering
System:

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Continued from previous page...
These are the most common vehicles with the Electromechanical Steering
System:
SEAT TOLEDO 06
SATURN VUE HYBRID 08-10
SMART FORTWO 08-12
SUZUKI KIZASHI 11->>
SUZUKI SX4 08-13
SUZUKI SWIFT 07-10
TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 07-09
TOYOTA PRIUS 01-03
VOLVO V40 12-14
VOLVO S60 14->>
VW JETTA 06->>
VW JETTA CLASSIC 09-13
VW BORA TDI 1.9L 08-10
VW BORA 06-10
VW EOS 10->>
VW GOLF 06->>>
VW GTI 07-13
VW PASSAT 06->>
VW PASSAT CC 09-13
VW TIGUAN 09-13

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Continued from previous page...
These are the most common vehicles with the Electromechanical Steering
System:

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e) Power Steering Gear Box System
This type of hydraulic steering box (Sector and Recirculating Ball Worm) is assisted by means
of a hydraulic steering pump driven by a pulley and a band (belt) connected to the vehicle's
engine. This hydraulic pump does not work if the vehicle is turned off. It is normally used in
some older cars, trucks and pickup trucks some up to 2012. There are other types, but this is
the most common on the market.

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TAGS: EPS, EHPAS, EPAS, ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING, STEERING WHEEL, TORQUE SENSOR, STEERING GEAR,
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST MOTOR, BALL SCREW RACK, STEERING SYSTEM, POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE, POWER
STEERING ELECTRIC MOTOR, STEERING COLUMN, STEERING RACK, COLUMN DRIVE, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING,
RECIRCULATING BALL SCREEW, STEERING SENSOR, TRW, ZF, JTEKT, KOYO, NSK, ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING
PUMP, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM, ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED STEERING RACK, FAILURE, DAMAGE,
TROBULESHOOTING, ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING S YSTEMS , GKN, ELECTRONIC RACK, ELECTRONIC RACK, ELECTRIC
RACK, ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK, AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRIC RACK, ELECTRONIC PUMP, ELECTRIC PUMP,
ELECTROHYDRAULIC PUMP, POWER STEERING

Comments, doubts, suggestions and errors please send us an email:

ever@autopartesever.com

This work was prepared by the Technical Department of Autopartes Ever

Monterrey, NL Mexico, October 2015