Location of steering parts
1. Horn cover; 2. Lock nuts; 3. Steering wheel; 4. Screws; 5. Steering column covers; 6. Harness connections; 7. Screws; 8. Bottom panel; 9. Air duct; 10. Combination switch; 11. Bolt; 12. Nuts; 13. Bolts; 14. Steering shaft and steering column lock assembly; 15. Bolt; 16. Interior insulator; 17. Nuts; 18. Intermediate howling; 19. Steering column lock
All models are equipped with rack and pinion steering. The parts that make up this system are the steering wheel, steering column, countershaft, rack and pinion assemblies, tie rods and steering knuckles. In addition, the power steering system also uses a belt driven pump to provide hydraulic pressure.
In a manual system, the rotational motion of the steering wheel will be transmitted through the steering column and countershaft to the output shaft in the rack and pinion assembly. The teeth on the output shaft are locked to the teeth on the rack, so as the shaft rotates, the rack moves left or right in the rack and gear housing. Connecting rods are attached to each end of the rack, which in turn are attached to the steering knuckles on the front wheels. This movement of the rack left and right is the direct force that turns the wheels.
The power steering system works essentially the same as a manual system, except that the power rack and gear system uses hydraulic pressure to increase direct steering force. The rotary control valve in the rack and gear assembly directs hydraulic fluid from the power steering pump to either side of the rack's integral piston that is attached to the rack. Depending on which side of the piston this hydraulic pressure is applied, the rack will move either to the left or to the right, moving the connecting rods, etc.
If the power steering system loses hydraulic pressure, it will still operate manually, albeit with a certain increase in effort.
The steering column is a collapsible, energy-absorbing type, designed to compress, in the event of a collision, the front end to minimize damage to the driver. The steering column also houses the ignition switch, key, warning buzzer, turn signal control, headlight switch control and windshield wiper control. The ignition and steering wheel can be locked when the car is parked to prevent theft.
Due to the collapsible type of steering column, it is important that only the specified screws, bolts and nuts may be used as indicated and that they must be tightened to the specified torque specification. Other precautions related to this project are noted in the relevant Chapters.
In addition to the standard steering column, an optional tilt version is also available.
Since steering column disassembly is performed more frequently to repair a switch or other electrical part than to repair the steering, some steering column disassembly and repair procedures are included in Section 12.