Energy steering is among the key developments in automotive know-how that has given drivers extra management over their autos. It solely grew to become frequent for the common automotive within the Nineteen Fifties and 60s, and earlier than that individuals needed to management the steering wheel all on their very own. Fortuitously, in the present day’s automobiles are a lot simpler to deal with.
As a model that prides itself on precision and management, BMW has been a world chief in creating energy steering know-how for many years. Look underneath the hood and take a look at how BMW’s superior energy steering techniques work.
Hydraulic Energy Steering
The commonest kind of energy steering system is the hydraulic selection. Yow will discover this technique in most BMWs made earlier than 2000, particularly the basic fashions from the 60s by means of the 80s. If you happen to’re taken with bimmers from this period, you’ll be pleased to study that energy steering wasn’t so difficult again then.
Hydraulic energy steering (HPS) depends on strain generated by an influence steering pump to help the motive force’s steering movement. The facility steering pump is linked to the engine, which sends pressurized hydraulic fluid to steering gear to make the wheel simpler to show.
Listed below are the opposite key components of an HPS:
- Energy Steering Fluid: Energy steering fluid is the hydraulic liquid that gives lubrication and strain to make sure clean steering operation. It’s situated in a reservoir subsequent to the engine, which should retailer an satisfactory provide to maintain the HPS purposeful.
- Steering Gear: The steering gear consists of a rack and pinion meeting, which converts the spinning movement of the steering wheel right into a lateral motion within the automotive’s axle, inflicting the wheels to show.
- Steering Rack: The steering rack horizontally connects the steering wheel to the steering gear, changing the steering power utilized by the motive force to the turning wheels by means of the rack and pinion meeting.
- Steering Column: The steering column vertically connects the steering wheel to the steering gear, permitting the wheel to switch its torque to the gear throughout a flip.
- Energy Steering Hoses and Hydraulic Traces – The Energy steering hoses and hydraulic strains transfer the pressurized energy steering fluid from the pump to the steering gear. They’re designed to deal with extraordinarily excessive strain and hold the fluid flowing in any circumstances.
In case your BMW begins to make wider turns than ordinary and also you discover that the steering wheel is more durable to manage, there may be seemingly an issue with the facility steering. This drawback is called “understeering” as a result of the wheel fails to finish the flip regardless of the motive force making the right maneuver.
You might be technically nonetheless able to driving with dysfunctional energy steering. You’ll discover a clunkier and heavier really feel to the steering wheel, but it surely’s nonetheless doable to manage the automobile by yourself. Nevertheless, it isn’t protected to depend on HPS with out energy steering fluid. That you must exchange this fluid roughly each 80,000 miles or two years relying on how usually you drive.
Electrical Energy Steering
Electrical Energy Steering (EPS) is the newer kind of steering system with many of the identical components, however with one key distinction. As a substitute of counting on strain from hydraulic fluid, an EPS makes use of an electrical motor to help with the motive force’s steering enter. This motor is linked to the steering column and might account for the automobile’s pace and the general driving circumstances.
BMW first began utilizing EPS within the Z4 E85 and E86 coupes from 2002 to 2008 and has adopted the know-how for almost all of its new releases ever since.
Listed below are the opposite distinctive parts of an EPS together with the electrical motor:
- Steering Column Torque Sensor – This sensor detects the quantity of torque or rotational power that the motive force applies to the steering wheel. This info goes to the facility steering controller.
- Energy Steering Controller: The facility steering controller is situated within the automobile’s digital management unit (ECU) and is the brains of the operation. It receives enter from the sensors within the motor and the steering column torque sensor and estimates the precise power the motor should exert to help with the flip.
- Car Velocity Sensor – This sensor tracks the pace of the automobile and offers the facility steering controller fixed enter, permitting it to vary the extent of help primarily based on the pace and driving circumstances.
EPS has a number of advantages over HPS. Because the electrical motor solely consumes energy when the motive force requires help, it’s extra fuel-efficient than HPS. The torque sensor additionally permits for better steering response flexibility primarily based on the motive force’s preferences, the automobile’s design or the highway’s circumstances.
Lastly, drivers can pair EPS with different digital automobile techniques, together with driver help and stability management techniques. These combos result in improved automobile efficiency and far safer driving.
Know Your BMW’s Energy Steering
If you happen to personal a more recent BMW mannequin, you have to study the ins and outs of your automotive’s electrical energy steering system. Those that personal basic bimmers ought to concentrate on studying about hydraulic energy steering. In both case, you have to know your BMW’s energy steering parts to make sure a constant driving expertise.
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