Mitsubishi Eclipse. Technical Information Manual (1994) — part 60

DRIVE-CONTROL COMPONENTS Power Steering

STEERING WHEEL

The steering wheel have the following features to

provide excellent maneuverability and stability.

l

The steering wheel has been specially designed
for improved maneuverability and good view

of meters. Some model versions come with a

steering wheel with auto-cruise control switches
on it.

l

The air bag incorporated in the steering wheel

provides the driver with additional protection
against the shock from a front-end collision.

Auto-cruise

switch

Cross section A A

Air bag

STEERING SHAFT AND COLUMN

All model versions come standard with a tilt steering
mechanism which allows the driver to select an
optimum driving position. Also adopted is an impact

absorption mechanism to absorb impact energy in
a collision, thereby ensuring the safety of the driver.

Tilting fulcrum

DRIVE-CONTROL COMPONENTS

Power Steering

BEFORE SHOCK

Shaft assembly

Polyacetal resin

1 3 x 0 0 5 7

AFTER SHOCK

BEFORE SHOCK

Column bracket

AFTER SHOCK

Cross-section B-B

SHOCK ABSORBING STRUCTURE

When the vehicle collides with something and
there is a load added to the steering shaft from
the gear box (primary shock), the polyacetal

resin in the joint assembly is separated, and

the shaft assembly slides into the pipe assembly,
absorbing the shock load.

If the driver’s body falls against the steering

wheel (secondary shock), the shock load is ab-
sorbed in the following two steps.

When a load is added to the steering wheel,
the column bracket crushes the polyacetal resin
and slides forward, absorbing the shock load.

Power Steering

BEFORE SHOCK

Steering bushing

Bellows

Upper column

Lower column

Al

AFTER SHOCK

Al

PUMP

The oil pump is an engine speed sensitive type
which changes its delivery rate so that the steering
wheel turning effort will always be optimized.

OIL PUMP PERFORMANCE

<Non-turbo>

10

8

4

0

10

20 30 40 50 60

70

Pump speed (N) (Xl

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Pump pressure (P)

Al

When a shock load is applied to the steering

wheel, the upper column slides forward. At the
same time, the bellows of the steering shaft
are deformed. During this process, the shock

load is absorbed by the friction between the
lower column and the inside surface of the steer-
ing bushing attached to the upper column.

<Turbo>

Pump speed (N)

I I I I

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Pump pressure (P)

NOTE
(1) P-Qf characteristic: Pump pressure and pump delivery rate.

(2) N-Qf characteristic: Pump speed and pump delivery rate.

DRIVE-CONTROL COMPONENTS Power Steerina

Tie rod end

Lip

I

Al

Al

STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE

(1) The bearings used in the rack end and the tie rod end

ball joints are one-piece type bearings which ensure higher
rigidity.

(2) Double-lip type oil seals are used in the power cylinder

to improve the reliability.

(3) The pinion shaft side of the steering gear and linkage

assembly has been secured directly to the cross member
for higher rigidity and positional accuracy.