April 2021

T wo winters with possibly little in the way of maintenance being sought will have put steering and suspension systems through a lot. Add to that the complication of new, lighter materials being used on more recent vehicles and the increasing deployment of electronics, and you will find a host of problems to understand and fix. Mechatronics While the hydraulic power steering racks has been the most used type of steering rack in recent years, BORG Automotive has noted a sharp increase in the number of cars with electronic steering racks, and the company has adapted its reman production accordingly Edin Elezovic, Product Manager for Steering at BORG Automotive, commented: “We believe that electronic steering racks will be the most common type of steering rack in the future and we actually expect that more than half of the European car parc will be fitted with ESRs in the course of the next 10-15 years. The control system based on a rotary valve has given way to an electronic one in many cases, integrated into the communication network of the vehicle; therefore, making steering racks one of many mechatronic components now found in cars.” To sustain the growth in the long-term by facing such a transition, BORG Automotive engineers in UK have been working on implementing processes and testing procedure enabling the remanufacturing of the latest generation of electric power steering racks. This includes those requiring fault tolerant and time deterministic protocols as FlexRay: “We have expanded our mechatronics team as we are fully aware of the future of mechatronics within the field of steering racks. We have an in-house facility built for this purpose with an ESD-protected production area,” observed Edin. He continued: “Driven by high quality standard, extended product range and a strong supply chain, BORG Automotive has been growing constantly on a business model that significantly reduces CO 2 emissions. Indeed, today the company remanufactures more than 2 million units across the different production facilities. Among the different product groups, steering related products, including rack, pump and electric column have seen incredibly high growth. This has been driven by racks, specifically the hydraulic power family, where sales volume has grown five-fold in the last six years. These products are all remanufactured in our UK plant, where our steering know- how is focused.” New range Alongside new tech, there are new products, and in this vein, Schaeffler has created a brand-new FAG premium steering and suspension range. Schaeffler UK’s Managing Director Nigel Morgan commented: “As a technical partner to leading vehicle manufacturers around the world, as well as a leading innovator with more than 130 years of chassis 36 AFTERMARKET APRIL 2021 STEERING AND SUSPENSION www.aftermarketonline.net New product and new methods mean you need to keep up with the latest in steering and suspension BOUNCE INTO THE SPRING expertise, FAG has always had an uncompromising approach to quality. As a result, every single component in the range has been approved by Schaeffler’s own engineers, using the most stringent testing standards, right down to the last nut, bolt and washer. “When it comes to the response from the technicians responsible for fitting steering and suspension components, it was evident from Schaeffler’s first Zoom- based ‘Tea-break training’ session that the FAG steering range is one that they are keen to install. As well as being manufactured to the company’s OE quality standards, every box includes all the ancillary components needed to carry out a professional and safe repair – e.g. nuts, bolts, washers and clips etc. – so no hunting round for extras or reusing worn parts. “The FAG chassis component range has been developed from the ground up to benefit from the company’s intelligent repair solution ethos, with Schaeffler’s product engineers demanding the highest material standards and manufacturing specifications to ensure consistent quality. Ball pins are nitride treated to maximise longevity, whilst all exterior surfaces have a market leading zinc flake coating technology to resist corrosion. They are further protected by clear thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) boots with a micro-sealing lip design that adapts perfectly to the ball contour. As well as being unique to the UK market, they are also highly resistant to liquids and mechanical loading, while the transparent material allows the technician to see the quality and quantity of the OE specification grease inside the joint.” Summing up, Nigel added: “Everything we do is geared towards helping professionals carry out the best possible repairs using the highest quality components. The FAG steering and suspension range naturally follows this ethos and allows us to supply a brand that provides workshops with a viable alternative from a trusted supplier, along with the market leading support that comes with every Schaeffler product.” Right: Installing components from the all-new FAG steering and suspension range