The weight reduction is only one of the aspects involved in the manual steering conversion, alongside the lower loads on the engine due to the absence of the hydraulic pump. Anyway, the lower maintenance expenses (no hoses or belt to replace, no steering fluid, only some good old grease) also account to decrease the overall vehicle operational cost
Quote:
Originally Posted by kir_kenix
I would be really surprised if conventional power steering pumps make it to the year 2020, outside of maybe really big trucks and maybe some economy cars.
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Electro-hydraulic probably will remain for the big rigs a while, and all-electric will probably become the mainstream for the economy cars. The lighter and more self-contained layout of an all-electric power steering, and the absence of a pump and hoses, are more favorable than retaining the all-hydraulic power steering. It may even become cheaper to manufacture...