Flushing the power steering system...

13238 Views 33 Replies 10 Participants Last post by BamZipPow, 3 mo ago

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · Apr 22, 2009

Place drain pan under the engine
Remove the bottom pan
Remove hose clamp
Pull the hose off the reservoir
Drain the fluid from the reservoir
Put the stopper hose on the reservoir (short length of 3/8" hose and an proper sized bolt stuffed up one end) to keep the new fluid from draining out
Point the return hose towards the pan
Fill the reservoir with fresh ATF (Dexron II or better) Yes...it uses Automatic Transmission Fluid...

Turn the steering wheel full left/right a few times (you can jack up the truck to make it easier)
Refill the reservoir as needed
Continue to purge the power steering system until the fluid runs clean
Remove the stopper hose from the reservoir
Replace the return hose to the reservoir
Reclamp the return hose to the reservoir
Refill the reservoir to the proper level
Turn the wheels full left and full right a few times
Recheck the reservoir and refill as needed
Clean up
Rebolt the bottom pan back on
Drop the truck down from the stands
Start engine and test steering
Turn off engine and recheck fluid level. Adjust as necessary.

Took me about 30 min to complete this simple task. Most people don't purge their power steering fluid until their system starts having problems. Replacing the rack or pump isn't a cheap cost like this is.

Reactions: 5

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BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jul 5, 2009

I added about 2oz of Auto-RX to see if it will stop the leak at the input shaft seals. I had to make sure to crank the steering wheel to the extreme (left and right) to cycle the fluids through there...we'll see how well it does in a few days/weeks...

Reactions: 1

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 25, 2009

Good news...the Auto-RX seems to have stopped the leak!

Reactions: 1

knj27

· #4 · Jul 26, 2009

You silly T100's and your r&p steering

fourwd1

· #5 · Jul 26, 2009

^^^ jealous

knj27

· #6 · Jul 26, 2009

na, I'm all about blown out tie rod boots

amigabill

· #7 · Sep 9, 2009

How much fluid should one expect to put in? I'd like to flush and replace as many fluids as I can, but can't find a capacity on the steering fluid. Bought a Haynes book and everything.

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 10, 2009

I just went with a gallon since I was doing my transmission later. I think it holds about 1 quart or so...I'd just git 2 quarts since yer gonna be flushing it out as much as possible.

Reactions: 1

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 14, 2010

Still no leaks...

Had to pull about 1oz fluid out since I overfilled it just in case it was gonna leak. No drop in fluid level fer over 4 months. When the fluid was gitting hot, it was overflowing out of the reservoir...so I had to drop it back to the proper level.

I used my marinade injector with the metal needle to suck out the excess fluid. I don't use it fer anything but that anyways...

Reactions: 1

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 27, 2010

Thinking about adding in a cooler to the return line. The extra fluid and keeping it cooler should extend the life of the power steering system some more.

I guess I could use the 2nd transmission cooler since I already have them both mounted.

Reactions: 1

96Wolf

· #11 · Jan 27, 2010

Did you do this flush while the engine was running, Off, or Both? Also which hose did you pull off in the beginning steps, was it the return hose or supply hose?

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 27, 2010

96Wolf said:
Did you do this flush while the engine was running, Off, or Both? Also which hose did you pull off in the beginning steps, was it the return hose or supply hose?

Engine off. The only time I started the engine was when I was all done to check fer leaks and make sure it worked okay.

The return hose is what you work from. It's the one with the clamp. The supply hose (high pressure) has the banjo bolt. You don't want to take that off to flush the system...really.

Reactions: 1

96Wolf

· #13 · Jan 28, 2010

BamZipPow said:
Engine off. The only time I started the engine was when I was all done to check fer leaks and make sure it worked okay.

The return hose is what you work from. It's the one with the clamp. The supply hose (high pressure) has the banjo bolt. You don't want to take that off to flush the system...really.

Thanks Bam, I figured it was that side, just wanted to double check. Looking to do this, this spring, as well as shocks and a new interior! Possible cruise control if i can get that figured out

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 28, 2010

You can actually do this one in the cold. It's just a clamp that you remove, pull that hose and stuff it in an empty gallon milk jug, and plug up the reservoir with a hose that's blocked on the other end.

Reactions: 1

96Wolf

· #15 · Jan 30, 2010

BamZipPow said:
You can actually do this one in the cold. It's just a clamp that you remove, pull that hose and stuff it in an empty gallon milk jug, and plug up the reservoir with a hose that's blocked on the other end.

Yeah it could be done in the cold... but i don't like the cold so it wont

but i can wait until it warms up. its been such a cold winter here.. the coldest i remember in a a long long time

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 30, 2010

At least git some Auto-RX and put that in there to git the system cleaned up...

Reactions: 1

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 27, 2010

So...it's not cold any more. Time to put this one on yer list as well. Are you sure you don't want me to just come up there and help you?

On a separate note...I just scored on a new reman AC Delco rack from RockAuto.com fer $153 shipped with no core charge. Normal price is $328 plus $138 core plus shipping...so probably close to $500. Of course...you'll have to ship the old rack back if you want the core charge back. I got mine at a closeout price...and shipping was just $8 but I got a $7 discount...so shipping was pretty much a wash. Fer that price...I couldn't pass it up. Now to see if I can git the Tundra polyurethane bushings to fit...

Reactions: 1

96Wolf

· #18 · Jun 1, 2010

BamZipPow said:
So...it's not cold any more. Time to put this one on yer list as well. Are you sure you don't want me to just come up there and help you?

On a separate note...I just scored on a new reman AC Delco rack from RockAuto.com fer $153 shipped with no core charge. Normal price is $328 plus $138 core plus shipping...so probably close to $500. Of course...you'll have to ship the old rack back if you want the core charge back. I got mine at a closeout price...and shipping was just $8 but I got a $7 discount...so shipping was pretty much a wash. Fer that price...I couldn't pass it up. Now to see if I can git the Tundra polyurethane bushings to fit...

Man that is a great deal! I looked on their site, and no deal anymore, unless there is some code you had to type in. Looked at my power steering fluid and it is clean as day!!!

BamZipPow

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jun 1, 2010

96Wolf said:
Man that is a great deal! I looked on their site, and no deal anymore, unless there is some code you had to type in. Looked at my power steering fluid and it is clean as day!!!

They only had one.

Are you sure the previous owner didn't put power steering fluid in there instead of Dexron III (ATF) instead?

Reactions: 1

96Wolf

· #20 · Jun 2, 2010

hey bam, not sure. I have all the recipts for everything ever done on the truck. I know my dad didn't do anything to it, but my grandfather may have had it changed at a toyota dealer. I will look into this

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