Hydro steering RTA laws

[MissDrew]

for Vehicle Owners & Operators in New South Wales Issued July 1998
Vehicle Standards Information No. 30
Issued by Vehicle Standards, Driver and Vehicle Policy Branch, Roads & Traffic Authority of New South Wales
(2 pages)
Replaces Automotive Information Sheet No 37 www.rta.nsw.gov.au/dvpr/vss.htm
Hydraulically Steered
Motor Vehicles
Introduction
Some special purpose vehicles are manufactured with hydraulic steering systems without any mechanical
linkage to provide manual override in the event of hydraulic failure. Typical examples of such vehicles
are mobile cranes and special purpose mobile machinery.
This information sheet describes the conditions for registration of a vehicle with hydraulic steering.
It does not apply to vehicles fitted with hydraulically assisted steering systems, commonly referred
to as power steering.
Requirements
Where an hydraulic fluid reservoir is specifically provided for the steering system, vehicles with full
hydraulic steering are normally equipped by their manufacturer with a low oil level warning device that
operates when the quantity of hydraulic fluid in the system approaches a dangerously low level. When
the device operates, it is visible or audible to the driver even when the engine is running. Where a
reservoir provides hydraulic fluid for other systems besides steering, a low pressure warning will be
adequate.
If the vehicle has no low oil level warning device, a warning label must be fitted to the vehicle in a
position directly visible to the driver:
Cat No 45070708
Size: Minimum 100mm x 50mm
Colour: Red lettering on an
amber backgound
Material: AS 1906 (Class 2)
or better
WARNING ARNING
MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT 45km/h
This vehicle is fitted with an
hydraulic steering system.
Fluid leakage may lead to
steering failure.
page 2 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 30
RTA Blacktown:
Vehicle Regulation Unit
Level 1, 85 Flushcombe Rd
PO Box 558
BLACKTOWN NSW 2148
Tel: (02) 9830 5555
Fax: (02) 9831 0913
RTA Charlestown:
Vehicle Regulation Unit
Cnr Pacific Hwy & Frederick St
PO Box 585
CHARLESTOWN NSW 2290
Tel: 1 800 049 920
or (02) 4940 5555
Fax: (02) 4921 0827
RTA Wollongong:
Vehicle Regulation Unit
104 Market Street
PO Box 5398
WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
Tel: (02) 4226 7007
Fax: (02) 4225 8844
RTA Parkes:
Vehicle Regulation Unit
PO Box 334
PARKES NSW 2795
Tel: 1 800 809 388
Fax: (02) 6862 8496
FURTHER INFORMATION
All pressurised components of the hydraulic steering system must be capable of withstanding at least
twice the maximum working pressure of the system and must be adequately protected from damage.
Any component will be considered to be protected if a substantial part of the vehicle structure directly
in front of the component projects below it, and if the component does not project to the widest part of
the vehicle (excluding rear vision mirrors and lights). If these requirements are not satisfied by existing
structures the component must be protected by a safety guard.
If the hydraulic steering system pump also supplies other hydraulic systems, the steering system must be
protected so that it is preferentially supplied in the event of failure in any of the other systems.
Conditions applying to maximum vehicle speed
Hydraulic steering systems usually lose sensitivity when the vehicle is driven at "high" speeds, so, if
the vehicle is capable of travelling at speeds in excess of 45km/h, registration will be conditional on
limiting the speed of the vehicle to a maximum of 45km/h when driven on public roads. This condition
might be waived if independent handling and performance tests are conducted and evidence is supplied
demonstrating that the vehicle is capable of being safely driven at its maximum speed. These tests
should consist of a comparison with another vehicle of similar mass and proportions equipped with
manual or power assisted steering. Tests should examine the ability of the vehicle to be successfully
driven through a slalom course in the minimum possible time and for the time to be compared to that for
the comparison vehicle. A comparison should also be made between the ability of both vehicles to
maintain a straight course at the maximum speed of the hydraulically-steered vehicle.

[Gribble]

Whats your point?

[MissDrew]

Theres aways been alot of talk about how people get their rigs regoed with full hydro, well there is a possible way to do it.

[Gribble]

Oh, righteo then.

Our forking truck at work has that Grimace little sticker.
I dont know if the rta consider your lifted beast with 44's as a "special purpose vehicle". It would be more like a "revenue magnet"

[Shadow]

45km/h

sounds like the testing would need to be done by an approved person (read engineer?) in order to get above the 45km/h speed limit

otherwise the other requirements are easy.

[auto_eng]

The types of vehicles they have listed as example of having factory fitted hydraulic steering usually do not have compliance plates and are registered under concessional schemes to start with.

Your vehicle will have a compliance plate and therefore was originally manufactured to, and required to continue to, comply with the ADR's.

Under ADR 42/XX you are reqired to comply with:

"Any component of the steering system of a motor vehicle which is essential for effective steering of the vehicle must be designed to transmit energy by mechanical means only."

Sorry to rain on your parade

[MissDrew]

hay i don`t give a shit as I don`t have and don`t any intention of having full hydro.

I just thought that might be a possible way to get it legal. What if you build a rig from nothing would you be ableto get it in under those rules?

[phippsy]

I know it's not hydro but what are cars like the honda jazz got with their electric steering, or are just like electrically assisted?? Sorry to get off track, but just wondered..

[ISUZUROVER]

Interesting info Guts. I wonder if there is anything anywhere about hydro rear-steer that is locked out on the road...

[Shadow]

I know it's not hydro but what are cars like the honda jazz got with their electric steering, or are just like electrically assisted?? Sorry to get off track, but just wondered..

yeh they are electrically assisted, they still have a physical connection to the steering.

[stuee]

They reckon electric assisted steering will replace hydrualic assisted steering in the not to distant future. One less oil system to worry about and paves the way for by-wire steering. But if what auto_eng said about the adr's I would doubt it would happen unless the adr's were changed to suit the newer technology.

[auto_eng]

hay i don`t give a shit as I don`t have and don`t any intention of having full hydro.

I just thought that might be a possible way to get it legal. What if you build a rig from nothing would you be ableto get it in under those rules?

If you build your rig from nothing you would still be required to meet the ADR. It would just be certified at a state level rather than a federal level.

[auto_eng]

Interesting info Guts. I wonder if there is anything anywhere about hydro rear-steer that is locked out on the road...

This might be a possibility. There are vehicles around that are four wheel steer and the rear steer is electric only. I think the argument is that failure of the rear steering will not render the vehicle unsteerable as they usually don't have equivalent amounts of lock as the front steering.

[Gribble]

They reckon electric assisted steering will replace hydrualic assisted steering in the not to distant future. One less oil system to worry about and paves the way for by-wire steering. But if what auto_eng said about the adr's I would doubt it would happen unless the adr's were changed to suit the newer technology.

Fly-by steering will never happen, electronics is just not reliable enough for it.

[J Top]

Tell that to NASA
J Top

[ISUZUROVER]

Interesting info Guts. I wonder if there is anything anywhere about hydro rear-steer that is locked out on the road...

This might be a possibility. There are vehicles around that are four wheel steer and the rear steer is electric only. I think the argument is that failure of the rear steering will not render the vehicle unsteerable as they usually don't have equivalent amounts of lock as the front steering.

Thanks for the reply. Maxi-Drive already makes a rear hydro steer set up that is designed to work only in low range, and uses a return to centre ram, with a pin that locks the rear steering solid when on road. I don't know if he has had any of the setups engineered though.

I am considering building my own rear-steer setup if it will be possible (and not too expensive) to engineer.