Steering System - Integral Power: Description

NOTE: For Super Duty commercial and motorhome chassis applications, see STEERING SYSTEM - BENDIX POWER article in the STEERING section.

Integral power steering unit consists of a rotary hydraulic control valve housing, input shaft/worm gear/valve sleeve assembly, sector shaft, and 1-piece piston containing 27-29 recirculating balls. The 1-piece piston's teeth are meshed to sector shaft teeth. Sector shaft is connected to Pitman arm.

Rotary hydraulic control valve assembly contains upper input shaft/valve sleeve, sleeve Teflon seals, and internal torsion bar. The input shaft/control valve sleeve is retained inside control valve housing by bearing and lock nut. Hydraulic action is generated by relative rotary motion between input shaft/control valve sleeve and worm/piston assembly. See Fig 1 and Figure .

Fig 1: Identifying Steering Gear Unit Components

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Fig 2: Exploded View Of C-II Power Steering Pump (Except Van)

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

The C-II power steering pump is used on all models except Van. The C-II pump is a belt-driven, slipper-type integral pump with a fiberglass/nylon reservoir. Reservoir is attached to rear of pump housing plate. See Fig 2 .

The C-II pump high-pressure hose is attached to pump by a swivel-type fitting with "O" ring seal. This type of fitting allows for hose movement without stressing line or fitting. Pump low-pressure hose is a slip-on design with hose clamp.High-pressure hose fitting and low-pressure hose pipe are located below filler neck, at outboard side of reservoir. A pump identification tag with model number is attached to reservoir.

The Saginaw power steering pump is used on Van. Pump is a constant displacement vane type. See Figure . The reservoir is "O" ring sealed onto the pump housing. All integral pump moving parts are submerged in fluid. The fluid filler opening is on top of reservoir, unless engine type requires alternate remote reservoir. Pump reservoir cap is sealed when using remote reservoir.

Rectangular pump vanes, driven by main pump shaft, are mounted into rotor and cam. Vanes move fluid from reservoir into cam ring. Fluid is pressurized by vanes in cam ring and then forced into cavities of thrust plate, through flow control valve. The flow control valve regulates pressurized fluid to the steering gear unit.