Table of contents: Possible malfunctions 🠇 Precautionary measures 🠇
The steering system consists of a steering wheel, a steering column, a steering gear and tie rods.
The steering wheel is mounted on the steering column and transmits force to the rack and pinion transmission. The steering gear is attached to the sub-engine frame using two studs screwed into the mechanism housing. The steering rack is connected to the tie rod on each side by a ball joint. The steering rods transmit force through the steering ends and steering knuckles to the front wheels. The rack and pinion steering has a smooth action and no play when turning the steering wheel from lock to lock. The steering system requires virtually no maintenance, but the condition of the ball joint boots should be checked regularly.
To make it easier to turn the steering wheel, a power steering is installed. It consists of an oil pump, a tank and oil lines. An electrically driven pump supplies oil from a reservoir under pressure to a valve located in the steering gear. The oil tank is mounted on an electric pump block, the flow rate of which is controlled by a computer. The valve is connected to the steering shaft and supplies oil, depending on the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, to the corresponding side of the working cylinder. The oil presses on the rack piston and thereby maintains the movement of the steering wheel. At the same time, the piston pushes oil from the other side of the working cylinder through the return line back into the tank.
The oil supply tubes to the pump and return tubes to the tank are fastened using a clamp connected to the oil supply tube.
The steering gear slide seal on the engine compartment bulkhead on the passenger compartment side provides sound insulation and also holds the carpets and sound-insulating material. The second seal on the engine side is attached to the steering gear housing (or hydraulic power steering valve), provides sealing against water and dust ingress.
For ease of driving, the steering wheel can be adjusted in height and longitudinally. The steering column is adjustable in height and depth by 40 mm and is equipped with a release sleeve. The steering column features a short housing to maximise space under the pedal cluster and a safety system at the top to absorb energy over a 50mm length in the event of a collision.
The steering column is secured with nuts that are screwed onto studs installed in the steering column support.
The lower part has a slider that allows for easier installation, eliminates the need for adjustment, and allows the steering column to fold in the event of an impact.
The driver's airbag is installed in the central part of the steering wheel. A driver-side airbag is standard equipment on all models. The safety system is activated when the ignition is turned on and is activated by a deceleration sensor included in the control unit.
Caution! Welding and straightening work on steering system components is strictly prohibited. New self-locking nuts must be used during installation.
If there is a fault in the airbag system, a warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
Possible malfunctions
If contaminants enter the hydraulic circuit of the power steering system, the following malfunctions may occur:
- jamming of the working parts of the system;
- blocking and stopping mechanisms;
- leaks of working fluid;
- power steering failure.
Precautionary measures
Use only fresh working fluid to top up and fill the system.
To seal the openings of valves and pipelines, use special plugs or caps.
It is prohibited to use any means to blow air into the hydraulic circuit and parts.
For each type of repair, strictly adhere to the following instructions:
- carry out repairs in a perfectly clean room;
- use only lint-free cloths.