If your vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic power steering system, the condition of the hydraulic oil is crucial. Over time, the hydraulic oil may become dirty, lose viscosity, or even bubble, resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of the steering system. Therefore, regularly checking the quality of the hydraulic oil is the key to maintaining soft steering.

The manual steering system relies entirely on mechanical transmission, and there is no power steering device in the system. The steering force is directly applied by the driver and transmitted to the wheels, so there is no need for a power steering pump.

In summary, the most efficient steering system should be the electric power steering system (EPS). This is because it performs well in energy efficiency, response speed and driving experience.

When the electric power steering system fails, the vehicle may experience the following situations: steering becomes difficult, steering response is delayed, the vehicle cannot maintain a straight line, the driver warning system is activated, and emergency control capabilities are reduced.

Around 1975, almost all new cars in the US market were equipped with power steering systems, and in the European and Japanese markets, this technology gradually became a mainstream configuration. It can be said that the late 1970s was an important milestone in the popularization of power steering systems.

Specifically, Honda first equipped its North American version of the Honda Accord with a hydraulic power steering system as standard in 1982, which was the time node when Honda first adopted power steering technology on a large scale.

Based on the above-mentioned steering systems, the most advanced steering system is undoubtedly the steering-by-wire system (Steer-by-Wire, SbW). The steer-by-wire system is a fully electronic steering system that does not rely on mechanical connections.

For those car fans who pursue the purest and most direct driving feeling, the mechanical steering system is undoubtedly the best choice. It provides the most realistic road feedback and control feeling, and is suitable for sports driving with high requirements on road conditions.