STEERING COLUMN AND SHAFT CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION

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Construction

•  The steering column consists of the Electric Power Steering (EPS) control module, torque sensor, EPS motor, and reduction gears, steering shaft, and the intermediate shaft.

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•  As a result of impact absorbing mechanisms on the steering shaft and intermediate shaft, when a collision occurs, the steering shaft effectively absorbs the impact energy that would be transmitted to the driver, thereby reducing injury.

Intermediate shaft construction

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Operation

EPS mechanism

•  The EPS control module drives the EPS motor based on the signals from the torque sensor and the vehicle speed signals from the PCM to transmit the assist torque to the intermediate shaft via the reduction gears.

Impact absorbing mechanism

•  At the moment of a collision, the rearward collapse of the steering gear (first stage impact) due to impact energy from the front causes the intermediate shaft to contract, effectively absorbing and softening the impact on the driver.

•  When the steering wheel contacts the body of the driver (second stage impact), the capsule rivet is sheared and the bracket and outer tube slide as a single unit along the slider and inner tube. At that time, the outer tube utilizes slide resistance during the slide to absorb impact energy.

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Tilt mechanism

•  The steering wheel can be adjusted upward or downward when the tilt lever is pulled to the driver's side and the tilt mechanism is unlocked.

•  The tilt mechanism has a stepless, 50 mm {2.0 in}upward/downward adjustment range.

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