System and method for controlling configuration of vehicle power steering based on driveline operation

摘要

A method and system of controlling a configuration of a vehicle power-assisted steering (PAS) system is provided. The method includes detecting at a vehicle a change between two-wheel-drive driveline operation and four-wheel-drive driveline operation; accessing a pre-defined PAS profile stored at the vehicle based on the detected change; and operating the vehicle PAS system using at least one variable, such as a level of PAS assist, a level of PAS damping or a level of steering wheel return/centring, included in the PAS profile in response to the detected change in driveline operation. The variables may further change dependent on vehicle speed. The PAS system may be electrical or hydraulic, preferably with an electric motor powering a rotary pump.