How are the power steering?

Hydraulic power steering - a device that serves to reduce the steering gear ratio . They make it easier for the driver's hands to work when parking and turning. Thanks to the hydraulic amplifier, the steering wheel of the car becomes so light that you can twist it with just one finger. And today we will devote to this mechanism a separate article in order to learn its structure and principle of operation.

What can they do?

The power-assisted steering not only reduces the driver's effort to turn the steering wheel, but also absorbs all shocks that are transmitted from the tires to the entire running system when the unevenness hits. This significantly reduces the load on all other suspension parts.

An interesting fact is that a car equipped with a GUR system does not enter a ditch when the wheel is suddenly lowered at a speed. At the same time the car without the hydraulic booster becomes uncontrollable, if on the driving axis the tire has sharply descended. Thus, the power steering system provides you with additional safety when driving.

How does this mechanism work?

Hydraulic power steering has the following mechanisms:

• The steering mechanism, which is combined with a hydraulic cylinder and a control spool;
• Pump with fluid reservoir;
• Connecting pipelines of high and low pressure.

Principle of operation

If the vehicle is traveling in a straight trajectory, the power steering is inoperative. They are activated only after a certain rotation of the wheel. If the car goes straight, the liquid in the system circulates in a circle, that is, from the deposit, it gets back into the tank.

Only after the driver has made a turn of the steering wheel, the hydraulic amplifier begins to operate. At the same time, the torsion bar is twisting, which causes the spool to rotate relative to the distributor sleeve. The liquid after opening the channels enters one of the holes in the power cylinder. What kind of cavity it will be depends on the direction of the turn. At the same time, the liquid is drained from the other hole into the tank. Thus, the piston of the cylinder ensures the movement of the steering rack. The last detail transfers forces to the steering rod, after which the wheel turns.

If the hydraulic amplifier is used in parking or when turning in a limited space, that is, when the speed of the car is small, it works with the greatest performance. Power of effort depends on the pump motor. It receives a signal from the computer, thereby opening a solenoid valve in the system . Accordingly, as the fluid pressure increases, a greater force is created to rotate the wheel. Therefore, the driver almost never makes any extra effort to twist the steering wheel.

How much does the power steering cost? The price of this device is about 20-25 thousand rubles.