If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about your car’s power steering. After all, it just helps you steer the car. But did you know that your car’s power steering system is actually one of the more important components?
What is Power Steering?
Power steering is a system in your car that helps you steer by turning the wheels. It’s usually powered by a motor in the steering wheel. The system can be manual or automatic.
Most cars today have power steering, but it’s not always necessary. If you have a car without power steering, you’ll need to use different techniques to turn the wheel.
Types of Power Steering
There are a few types of power steering systems. The two most common types are hydraulic and electric. Hydraulic power steering uses a pump to force fluid through the system, which helps turn the wheels. Electric power steering uses an electric motor to assist the traditional hydraulic power steering.
Electric power steering is becoming more common because it’s quieter and less expensive than hydraulic power steering. Electric power steering can also be more efficient because it doesn’t use as much energy to turn the wheels. However, electric power steering can become glitchy in cold weather, and it can’t work in some vehicles with manual transmissions.
Hydraulic power steering is still the preferred type of power steering in many cases because it’s smoother and more responsive than electric power steering. Hydraulic power steering is also more reliable than electric power steering, but it can be more expensive to replace.
How To Test Your Power Steering
If you’ve ever had to drive a car without power steering, you know just how difficult it can be. With no assistance from the engine, you have to rely on your own strength and reflexes to keep the car on the road.
To test your power steering, first make sure all of the fluids in the system are full and at their correct levels. Next, locate and disconnect the power steering lines from both the pump and the rack. Drive the car around for a few minutes to get used to driving without power steering.
When you’re ready, reattach the lines and try turning the wheel. If it’s hard to turn, your pump is probably worn out or defective, and you’ll need to replace it. If it’s easy to turn, your rack is probably OK but your fluid level is low, so you’ll need to top off the reservoir.
What to do if Your Power Steering is Gone
If your power steering is gone, there are a few things you can do to get around. You can use your manual transmission, which will require some work on your part, or you can use an emergency brake to help steer. If you are using an emergency brake, be sure to keep your hands and arms close to the wheel so that you don’t lose control of the car.
Conclusion
If you have ever driven a car without power steering, you know how challenging it can be. If your car is older and doesn’t have an electronic power steering system, you will need to use manual steering to make turns. If your car has an electronic power steering system, you might still need to use manual steering on occasion, depending on the settings of the device. Either way, using manual steering is not as easy as it seems and requires some practice if you want to get good at it.