How Does My Power Steering Work?

August 27, 2019 · 2 min read

Power steering is a system that reduces the effort required to turn the steering wheel, allowing for a smooth, seamless feel. Without power steering, the maneuvering of most vehicles would be extremely heavy and take a considerable amount of effort, especially at low speeds. This system has constantly evolved to keep up with technological advancements, and although it started as a hydraulic system, it has slowly turned into an electronic system today.

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To help you get a better understanding of how your power steering works, the team at Lunde's Peoria Volkswagen is here to give you the details of each system.

Hydraulic

The hydraulic power steering system uses fluid moved by a pump controlled with a pulley. As you turn the steering wheel, a valve releases fluid into the system to turn the wheels. The speed of the valve opening coincides with the momentum of the vehicle to ensure the driver always receives the right amount of input from this system.

Like most of the fluids in your car, power steering fluid breaks down from constant use. It's important for VW drivers to always get their power steering fluid levels checked out according to their vehicle's maintenance schedule.

Hybrid

As vehicles moved toward using full electronic systems, it was necessary that the power steering system received an upgrade that combined hydraulic and electric controls. Fortunately, with the exception of the pump, the hybrid system works largely the same as the hydraulic components.

In the hybrid system, the pump utilizes an electric motor for power rather than using a pulley connected to the engine. The largest benefit is the ability to still utilize the power steering system with the engine off to assist drivers maneuvering a stalled vehicle. The development of the hybrid system also led to the creation of a fully electric steering system.

Electric

Electric power steering has become the norm on many new cars. This system continually watches the function of the gear and column to determine if the driver requires assistance. Sensors detect the torque, or effort, that the driver is applying at the steering wheel, and a computer decides how much assist needs to be added.

In most electric systems, the computer changes the steering effort based on the car's speed. On many cars, drivers are able to adjust the amount of input provided by the system by activating a button on the dash.

Learn More About Your Car's Power Steering From Lunde's Peoria VW

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For more information on your vehicle's power steering, please don't hesitate to contact the team at Lunde's Peoria VW today!

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