Can anyone confirm, or correct me, as to how the EPS on my 2010 Panda and my boy's 2012 is influenced by the power assistance?
My assumption is that as you start to turn the steering wheel the rack will be resisting the tendency to twist the pinion (because the tyres are gripping the road). So the top part of the steering column starts to turn whilst the lower part of the column lags very very slightly behind it. The torque sensor in the column detects this and commands the electric motor to assist turning in that direction. If you stop applying force to the steering wheel the upper and lower column parts will realign and the sensor knows this so cuts power to the motor. My assumption is that it's this "misalignment" which the sensor uses to decide whether to apply assistance or not?
The reason I'm dwelling on this thought is that I'm guessing the power steering has nothing to do with self centering of the steering when driving down the road? I assume that steering geometry, Camber, Castor and especially KPI are what will influence this? In other words, the power steering has no inherent ability to self centralize the rack? So, if the car tends to pull to one side when driving down a straight piece of road it can not be anything to do with the EPS itself which is likely to be the cause?
My assumption is that as you start to turn the steering wheel the rack will be resisting the tendency to twist the pinion (because the tyres are gripping the road). So the top part of the steering column starts to turn whilst the lower part of the column lags very very slightly behind it. The torque sensor in the column detects this and commands the electric motor to assist turning in that direction. If you stop applying force to the steering wheel the upper and lower column parts will realign and the sensor knows this so cuts power to the motor. My assumption is that it's this "misalignment" which the sensor uses to decide whether to apply assistance or not?
The reason I'm dwelling on this thought is that I'm guessing the power steering has nothing to do with self centering of the steering when driving down the road? I assume that steering geometry, Camber, Castor and especially KPI are what will influence this? In other words, the power steering has no inherent ability to self centralize the rack? So, if the car tends to pull to one side when driving down a straight piece of road it can not be anything to do with the EPS itself which is likely to be the cause?