F 250 2WD Pickup V8-7.3L DSL Turbo VIN F (1994)
Steering Gear: Description and Operation
Fig. 1 Ford Integral Power Steering Gear
The Ford XR-50 power steering unit is a torsion bar type of hydraulic-assisted system. This system furnishes power to reduce the amount of turning
effort required at the steering wheel. It also reduces road shock and vibrations.
Fig. 2 Ball And Nut Housing
The unit includes a worm and one piece rack-piston which is meshed to the gear teeth on the steering sector shaft. The unit also includes a hydraulic
valve, actuator, input shaft and torsion bar assembly which are mounted on the end of the worm shaft and operated by a twisting action of the torsion bar.
This rotary valve type gear, uses a one piece rotary valve and sleeve assembly. Therefore no centering shims are used and no adjustment is possible. This
makes possible internal fluid passages between valve and cylinder, thus eliminating all external lines and hoses except the pressure and return hoses
between pump and gear. The power cylinder is an integral part of the gear housing. The piston is double acting in that fluid pressure may be applied to
either side of the piston.