Sidekick JX 4D Hard Top 4WD L4-1.6L (1997)
Steering Gear: Description and Operation
Power Steering
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION
Input shaft in gear box has a torsion bar (which connects input shaft and main shaft) and a pin. As steering wheel is turned, input shaft turns and its
pin moves spool valve according to how much steering wheel is turned. Such valve movement allows fluid to flow so that hydraulic pressure is
applied to piston which then provides assistance to steering wheel with steering effort.
Torsion bar is twisted as input shaft turns and pin moves spool valve according to how much it is twisted (i.e., how much steering wheel is turned).
Then hydraulic pressure acts on main shaft to turn as much as input shaft has turned, there by torsion tear becomes free from twist. Consequently,
pin returns to its neutral position, so does spool valve and no hydraulic pressure is applied to cylinder or piston in this state.
When the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead position, the spool valve does not operate. Thus fluid from the P/S pump flows through the
short-circuit back to the oil tank.
When the steering wheel is turned to the right, the pin interlocked with the input shaft pushes the spool valve to the right to allow the hydraulic
pressure to be applied to the right side of the cylinder.
