Your Guide to Power Steering

Your vehicle’s power steering system plays a crucial role in providing you with a smooth driving experience. This system supports your own efforts when you’re turning the vehicle so you can easily control a large piece of machinery with minimal force. It’s helpful to understand what type of power steering system you have so you can make sure your vehicle gets the appropriate care and maintenance. View our inventory of new vehicles or give us a call today at 817-367-4000.

What Is Power Steering?

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Power steering is a system that reduces the physical effort needed to turn the steering wheel and maneuver your vehicle. Power steering technology first debuted in the 1951 Chrysler Imperial, but it wasn’t long until other vehicles followed suit with this system. Your vehicle’s steering system translates the movement of the steering wheel to the rotation of the front wheels. Though you probably take this functionality for granted, there are many complex parts that come into play.

Types of Power Steering Systems

There are three primary types of power steering systems:

Hydraulic Power Steering

A hydraulic power steering system features a hydraulic rotary-vane pump that circulates hydraulic fluid under pressure throughout the system. The car’s engine drives this pump using a belt and pulley system. Inside the pump, retractable vanes spin, drawing hydraulic fluid in at low pressure and pushing it out at high pressure.

When you turn the steering wheel, a rotary control valve directs the pressure to the appropriate hydraulic piston and releases pressure from the opposite side. This pressure supports your own movement of the wheel, making it easier to turn. The more torque you apply to the steering wheel, the more pressure your power steering system applies to the steering gear, so the resulting force corresponds to the pull of the driver.

Hydraulic power steering systems are common on cars manufactured through the early 2000s, but this type of system is less common on newer vehicles.

Electric Power Steering

Modern cars typically use electric power steering systems. Electric power steering systems use a small electric motor at the end of the steering column to assist with steering. The vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU) monitors the movement of the steering wheel using small sensors on the steering column. The ECU then tells the motor when to assist with the movement of the rack and pinion that control the tires.

Electric power steering senses the torque the driver is exerting and responds appropriately. These electric steering systems also make adjustments that correspond to the vehicle’s speed. Steering is lighter at parking speeds and more difficult at highway speeds for greater stability.

Hybrid Power Steering

A hybrid power steering system, also known as an electrohydraulic steering system, is similar to a hydraulic power steering system. The primary difference is that there is an electric pump in place of the hydraulic pump. The engine drives the electric pump, which increases the efficiency and reliability of the system. This type of system is fairly uncommon, though you may see it on some heavy-duty trucks.

How To Maintain Hydraulic Fluid

Hydraulic power steering and hybrid power steering rely on hydraulic fluid, which becomes contaminated over time. You should flush your power steering fluid every 30,000 miles to ensure that it’s in good condition. Dirty power steering fluid won’t work as efficiently and may cause the power steering pump to wear out. Regularly changing your power steering fluid is more affordable than replacing a failed pump.

To keep your system in good shape, you should regularly check your power steering fluid levels to make sure you have enough fluid. It’s best to check your power steering fluid after the car has been running so it’s warmed up. To do this:

1. Shut off the car.
2. Find the power steering reservoir under the hood of the car. The cap may read “power steering fluid” or have an icon showing a steering wheel over wavy lines indicating fluid. Check your owner’s manual for detailed information on where to find the power steering fluid reservoir.
3. If the reservoir is clear, look for full and low indicator lines on the outside. This will indicate whether you need more power steering fluid.
4. If the reservoir is opaque, remove the cap and pull out the dipstick. Wipe the dipstick on a clean rag or paper towel and insert the dipstick into the reservoir. Pull it out and check the fluid line to see whether you’re low on power steering fluid.

Common Power Steering Problems

The most common indicator of power steering problems is difficulty steering. If your steering wheel becomes more difficult to turn, you probably have an issue with the power steering system. Some problems that you might experience include:

• Low power steering fluid: If your power steering system develops a leak, you may have low power steering fluid levels. Low fluid can cause a grinding sound when you turn. If there’s a significant leak, you may notice fluid on the driveway beneath your car.
• Worn pump: Over time, your pump will work less efficiently, and parts such as the seals may break down. This can cause a squealing sound when you turn. You may need to have the entire pump replaced.
• Slipped belt: If the drive belt on the power steering pump slips, your car will not turn at all because you will have no fluid pressure. The steering wheel will squeal when you turn the wheel.
• Cracked, peeling, worn, or loose hose: The hoses in the power steering system will eventually harden and crack as they age. This will create a lack of pressure that causes a squealing sound and makes it hard to execute sharp turns. The couplings that hold the hoses together can loosen, allowing power steering fluid to leak out.

Flushing the power steering fluid is a part of regular maintenance if you have a hydraulic power steering system. Our service center at Hiley Hyundai of Fort Worth can help you keep up with this and other maintenance for your vehicle. Contact us to make your appointment today and ensure that your vehicle is always in outstanding condition.