DESCRIPTION & OPERATION
The recirculating ball power steering system consists of steering gear, steering linkage, pressure and return fluid hoses and fittings, and a hydraulic steering pump with fluid reservoir.
The steering gear is a power assisted recirculating-ball type that acts as a rolling thread between worm shaft and rack piston. (Scheme 1) When worm shaft is turned, the rack piston moves and piston teeth mesh with sector shaft teeth, turning pitman arm, which turns steering linkage.
The steering linkage consists of pitman arm, idler arm(s), tie rods, center link and drag link (if equipped).
The power steering pump is a constant flow rate and displacement, vane-type pump. Pump is connected to steering gear by pressure and return hoses. On gasoline models, pump shaft has pressed on belt-driven pulley.
On diesel models, power steering pump is bolted onto rear of vacuum pump and is driven by a common shaft.
