Power steering system (Mercedes-Benz E-Class W210)

The steering has a hydraulic booster. It helps reduce the effort on the steering wheel when turning. The hydraulic booster consists of an oil pump, a reservoir with working fluid and oil lines. The oil pump is driven by the engine cardan shaft through a V-belt. The pump pumps the working fluid from the reservoir and supplies it under high pressure to the steering gear. The control unit provides the necessary steering boost. Depending on the model and configuration, the operation of the hydraulic booster system is related to the speed of movement (parametric control). When the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly, the electronic control provides maximum support - the steering wheel effort during turns is small. As the speed increases to 100 km/h, the support decreases accordingly; above this limit, the steering operates in the same way as in a vehicle without power steering. Reducing the power steering function at high speeds ensures better contact with the road and greater control precision. The electronic parametric control system is located in the control unit of the traction control systems (ETS, ASR, ESO).

The rack and pinion steering gear must move freely from one extreme position to the other and have no play. The system does not require maintenance. However, the condition of the protective cuffs and the level of the working fluid in the power steering reservoir should be checked regularly.

Do-it-yourself power steering repair

Repair of the power steering is the task of service station specialists. For this, they have diagnostic equipment with precise codes and special technologies that correspond to the car models. This is the only way to avoid failure of the electronic system and, as a result, expensive repairs. Therefore, power steering repair must be carried out at a service station. If the faults are not corrected correctly, the power steering may fail while driving.