How 2 drain Power Steering System

[Bill R]

'01 RAV4, w/ 20k miles - so far so good. Checked the power steering fluid today, the leve was fine but the fluid stunk and was brownish in color. The dip stick has a thin skin of brown gunk on it. Want to drain the system and add new fluid.
How to do this? Couldn't find in Hayes. Would appreciate your help.

Recommendations on a replacement fluid? Plan to add Lube Control with this change out. Thanks, Bill R

[JeremyH]

Well, just pull one of the hoses. There will be a minimum of two lines, high and low pressure. You will want to pull the low pressure line.....the one that uses regular hose clamps.

Now, while you are doing this, you might want to think about adding a small tranny cooler to the return side (low pressure) to help cool and prolong the life of the fluid, therefore prolonging the life of your steering box.

I have done this on my jeep and here is a fairly detailed write-up:
http://www.jeepsites.net/howto/pscooler/

It should be a fairly close procedure to what I have written....you might need to mount the cooler in a different spot....but you get the idea.