Squeaky steering wheel after power steering flush?

[spup345]

2000 Camry XLE V6 (usa):
Just had my power steering fluid flushed. After that was done, my steering wheel squeaks when I turn it, sometimes. Usually the turn has to be extreme to hear the squeak, but it's definitely there and it definitely sounds like it's coming from the steering wheel (or at least somewhere in that general area, but not from like the fan belt or anything outside the car or under the hood).

Is it possible that new steering fluid would somehow "unearth" a problem that was always there but hidden somehow by the old fluid?

If the mechanic used something other than the recommended Dexron III (per Haynes manual), would it cause the problem? Would that be an issue in general to not use Dexron III (I think they said they use something called Omni on all cars across the board, but I'll call them to dbl-check)

Finally, I brought it back to the mechanic and let him hear the sound and he said he heard it when driving the car into the shop from the parking lot before even doing the flush (I find this hard to believe), and also said it's common with the older Camry's to have a squeaking steering wheel, that it has something to do with the bearing inside the actual steering wheel which needs to be lubed potentially...

I tried this solution by the way (with silicone spray, not wd-40) and it didn't solve it, I'll try it once more though:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...ay-WD-40-Here/

[Mister_Perkins]

Yeah the squeaky steering wheel is a typical camry thing.

Its very very possible that flushing the fluid caused it to flush out some crud, revealing a problem.

I would pin-point where the noise is coming from .. either inside the car, or outside the car. You may need a helper to figure out where the noise is coming from. Once you locate exactly where the noise is coming from it will give you a better idea of what's going on.

[spup345]

It may actually have been the area in the link in my original post. I got it good with silicone spray with my father turning the steering wheel back & forth while I sprayed and I think that solved it. Not sure why flushing the power steering fluid would reveal that problem, could be that the steering works slightly better or something so it caused the extra friction from the speed of turning the wheel now, who knows. either way i think it's solved. thanks!

[JohnGD]

Do siphon out the ATF in the reservoir and add new fluid back in at least every other oil change or once a year. Should be about 12 oz or so. Walmart's Supertech Mercon-V (D-III) suitable or Castrol Import Multi-vehicle ATF (synthetic blend) are good values.

Originally Posted by spup345

It may actually have been the area in the link in my original post. I got it good with silicone spray with my father turning the steering wheel back & forth while I sprayed and I think that solved it. Not sure why flushing the power steering fluid would reveal that problem, could be that the steering works slightly better or something so it caused the extra friction from the speed of turning the wheel now, who knows. either way i think it's solved. thanks!