Electric Power Steering??
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Electric Power Steering??
I've been seein these comercials for the new Saturns and they advertise electric power steering...I've been lookin through saturn's web sites but can't find a good description for it. Anybody know exactly how this works and what the benefits are?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Baileyton, TN
Electric Power Steering??
The only advantage I could think of was no power steering fluid to check..
I suppose they could be cheaper to replace???
I had not heard of them, I need to look into them, for curiosity.
Theo
I suppose they could be cheaper to replace???
I had not heard of them, I need to look into them, for curiosity.
Theo
Posting Guru
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From: Live Oak, FL
Electric Power Steering??
I think that this is a start toward the 42V electric system, although I assume this is still a 12V system. The thinking is that the more load you take off the engine, the better the milage you get or maybe the smaller the engine will have to be.
The only problem I see with that is where does the power come from that charges the battery back up to put in the power you took out to turn the steering wheel.? Maybe it is a maintenance thing, no hydraulic fluid, no hoses, no pump, no loud noise from the ford pump lol.
If you do a google search on 42V system you will see that they are planning on converting everything they can to electric. I guess the fuel pump is already electric and has been for a while, but brakes, cooling fans and power steering are all going to go electric.
The only problem I see with that is where does the power come from that charges the battery back up to put in the power you took out to turn the steering wheel.? Maybe it is a maintenance thing, no hydraulic fluid, no hoses, no pump, no loud noise from the ford pump lol.
If you do a google search on 42V system you will see that they are planning on converting everything they can to electric. I guess the fuel pump is already electric and has been for a while, but brakes, cooling fans and power steering are all going to go electric.
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From: Live Oak, FL
Electric Power Steering??
I apologize for making another post, but my "edit" key has disappeard and so far the FTE staff hasn't told me why.
Here is a link on electric power steering.
http://www.delphi.com/media/news/product_info/esteer/
Here is a link on electric power steering.
http://www.delphi.com/media/news/product_info/esteer/
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Electric Power Steering??
Thanks for the link, pretty interesting. Electric fans have been around for awhile so I guess this is the next step.
All I can say is...goodie, more elctronics and computers.
All I can say is...goodie, more elctronics and computers.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
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From: The Big, Oregon
Electric Power Steering??
I can imagine what it would cost to replace that rack- GM has been using it for a while, starting with that EV-1 monstrosity. I don't know why anybody would copy from that car- the only one I ever saw was broken down in Phoenix. Cheap GM garbage. I guess the main benefit is that there is no power steering pump sucking power off the engine, and the weight from that is gone too.
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Electric Power Steering??
Yeah I couldn't help but laugh a while back when Pete. 4wheel and offroad tested a chevy with quadrasteer and bent the puny little tie rod in the rear while driving on a dirt road.
Way to take a great rear axle (D60) and make it weak with u-joints and pencil thin tie rods.
Oh well...at least I haven't seen hardly any on the road, I guess most people still have some common sense.
Way to take a great rear axle (D60) and make it weak with u-joints and pencil thin tie rods.
Oh well...at least I haven't seen hardly any on the road, I guess most people still have some common sense.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Electric Power Steering??
Yeah I just got done reading that writeup on the FTE Home page about the 04 F150 and about its drive by wire throttle and couldn't help but think about all those time I've driven my truck down bumpy dirt roads and had the throttle bounce all around cause I can't keep my foot steady.
I guess it boils down to:
would it be nice? yes
but can I live without it? of course
I guess it boils down to:
would it be nice? yes
but can I live without it? of course
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Lenexa, KS
Electric Power Steering??
I think if I was buying a car as small as a Saturn, and fuel economy was my main concern, I might prefer the old fashioned completely manual steer option. On a car this light, how hard would it be to steer without the power assist?? All those sensors and brushless motors seem like an expensive service call waiting to happen.
Several years ago, one of our vendors that manufactures self propelled scissor lifts came up with an "all electric" scissor lift that replaced the hydraullic lift cylinder with an electrically activated "worm gear" that rotated like a giant screw drive to lift the platform. The idea was also to eliminate hydraulics. The unit never really made it past the prototype. I think they found some things are well enough left alone!!
Several years ago, one of our vendors that manufactures self propelled scissor lifts came up with an "all electric" scissor lift that replaced the hydraullic lift cylinder with an electrically activated "worm gear" that rotated like a giant screw drive to lift the platform. The idea was also to eliminate hydraulics. The unit never really made it past the prototype. I think they found some things are well enough left alone!!
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: White Sands, NM
Electric Power Steering??
I need clarification here. I the system in question an electric assist, or is it truely drive-by-wire?
I would be very, very concerned about driving a vehicle with no mechanical linkage to the stearing gear. 80mph on th freeway would be a real bad time for the electric motor to crap out...
If, on the other hand, it's just a different type of power assist, then i guess that would be OK...
I would be very, very concerned about driving a vehicle with no mechanical linkage to the stearing gear. 80mph on th freeway would be a real bad time for the electric motor to crap out...
If, on the other hand, it's just a different type of power assist, then i guess that would be OK...
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Live Oak, FL
Electric Power Steering??
Here's a little exerpt from the article I posted a link to earlier:
How does it work?
The E-STEER system uses sensor input and software algorithms to determine the amount of steering assist required. Responding to inputs from the vehicle speed and hand wheel sensors, the controller sends torque-adjusting commands to the variable speed, electric motor, resulting in the optimum amount of steering assist based on vehicle conditions. A returnability algorithm guides the steering wheel back to center following the steering maneuver. The algorithms are customized to preserve the distinctive characteristics of various vehicles. High output current capability enables high steering load capacity. Brushless motors provide optimum steering characteristics with less wear on the motor and less packaging and mass (25 to 30 percent smaller than brush motors). Built-in diagnostics assess all critical signals and functions to contribute to improved safety.
Sounds like good old electric assisted power steering to me.
How does it work?
The E-STEER system uses sensor input and software algorithms to determine the amount of steering assist required. Responding to inputs from the vehicle speed and hand wheel sensors, the controller sends torque-adjusting commands to the variable speed, electric motor, resulting in the optimum amount of steering assist based on vehicle conditions. A returnability algorithm guides the steering wheel back to center following the steering maneuver. The algorithms are customized to preserve the distinctive characteristics of various vehicles. High output current capability enables high steering load capacity. Brushless motors provide optimum steering characteristics with less wear on the motor and less packaging and mass (25 to 30 percent smaller than brush motors). Built-in diagnostics assess all critical signals and functions to contribute to improved safety.
Sounds like good old electric assisted power steering to me.
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From: Live Oak, FL
Electric Power Steering??
I would think that over the lifetime of a car 1 mpg savings would add up to be quite a bit, not to mention the mfg would like to add another mpg to the milage sticker.