• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Power Steering Fluid / Brake Fluid Questions?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kerpal
  • Start date Start date Jul 22, 2006
K

Kerpal

New Member
Aug 9, 2004
400
0
0
Jul 22, 2006
#1
  • Jul 22, 2006
  • #1
Is there any real benefit to buying the expensive synthetic PS fluid, or will the cheap stuff do just fine? I'm in the middle of replacing my rack & pinion and just want to make sure I put the right stuff in there once I flush out the pump with lots of el-cheapo brand fluid.

Secondly, how much brake fluid is needed to bleed and refill our brake systems? I bought enough Ford brand fluid to fill the system, but forgot to account for flushing out the old stuff when bleeding the brakes.

Anyone have a good writeup on bleeding brakes, by the way? I have a helper, but would it be worth buying some Speed Bleeders anyway?
 

795.0pacecar

lover of pudgy polygamists
Jul 11, 2003
480
0
17
Senoia, GA
Jul 22, 2006
#2
  • Jul 22, 2006
  • #2
I put the cheapest Type F I can find in my power steering pump. I've been doing it for years. Hasn't failed me yet.
 

Dayzed50

Founding Member
May 20, 2001
106
0
16
Marysville, WA
Jul 22, 2006
#3
  • Jul 22, 2006
  • #3
to be honest the standard ps fluid should be sufficient, though it may be worthwhile to buy the high performance brand due to the fact that little maintainance is required on your ps system once it's set up. I like the peace of mind you get from running higher grade fluids on a car that will be put through the ringer as most mustangs are. As far as the brake fluid goes my friends ans I use valvoline synthetic. It is relatively inexpensive compared to standard b/f and I believe is compatible with non synthetic. I purchased a cheap speed bleeder from my local parts store and it works great even by myself. When you do bleed your brakes start at pass-rear,then driv-rear,pass-front and finally driv-front. When you do each flush until clean fluid is all that comes out, making sure to not let your master cylinder run empty (very important). Use all the fluid it takes, I've used up to a half jug (1 quart jug I think) to completely flush the system, the valvoline stays clean for a long time so you shouldn't need to change it for years.
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Jul 22, 2006
#4
  • Jul 22, 2006
  • #4
Garden Sprayer Pressure Bake Bleeder

1 each pump type garden sprayer, 1 - 1 ½ gallon capacity (size doesn’t matter much, it just has to be cheap and small enough to be easy to work with)
6-10 feet 3/8” clear plastic tubing
1 each ¼” brass pipe tee
1 each ¼” pipe to 3/8: hose adapter
1 each pressure gauge 0-60 PSI or so – all you’ll ever need is 5- 10 PSI, so the gauge range doesn’t have to be high.
1 each large rubber stopper – this is the hard part to find. It may take some searching to find one that is a snug push fit to the inside of the filler port on the master cylinder. You can use silicone rubber to seal a brass fitting to an old master cylinder cap, but they tend to leak too much.
Home Depot or Lowes has some ¼” brass pipe stock that is continuously threaded in the electric lamp repair department, along with the brass nuts that go with it. This is better than a pipe nipple, since the nuts can be used to secure the pipe in the cap or stopper.
OR if you can’t find the threaded pipe stock,
1 each ¼” nipple, 1 ½”- 2” long

The rubber stopper needs a hole drilled in it for the ¼” pipe nipple or threaded pipe stock. After you drill the hole, use some silicone gasket sealer to seal the pipe nipple as you push it into the rubber stopper. If you used the threaded pipe stock, use the nuts to secure the stock into the stopper.

If you can’t find a suitable rubber stopper, an old master cylinder cap can be used. Drill a ½” hole in the center for the pipe fitting. Cut the brass pipe stock to about 1”- 1 ½” long, the exact length isn’t too important. Push it through the hole in the master cylinder cap and thread one nut on top of the pipe stock where it sticks though the cap. Put another nut on the other side of the cap to lock the pipe stock in place. Apply some silicone rubber gasket sealer to both sides and when it is dry, screw the ¼” pipe that sticks out of the top of the cap into the tee.

Remove the sprayer hose and wand from the garden sprayer. You may find it easier just to cut the sprayer hose off short and connect it to the 3/8” plastic tubing. The idea is that the 3/8” tubing connects to the pickup tube inside the sprayer in a reliable, leak proof fashion. Another alternative is to remove the spray nozzle from the end of the spray wand and connect the 3/8” tubing to the wand. This leaves the hand valve in place and may be useful to start/stop the flow of brake fluid.

The 3/8” plastic tubing connects to the pipe tee using a push on hose barb type adapter. The pipe tee has one port for the gauge, one for the 3/8” hose and the other to connect to the rubber stopper or master cylinder cap that you modified.

Fill the pump sprayer with a quart of brake fluid. Set the garden sprayer on the ground and screw the pump handle down tight, and pump until brake fluid fills the plastic tubing. Then put the modified stopper or master cylinder cap on the master cylinder and pump slowly to make sure that nothing leaks or pops loose. No leaks, continue pumping until you get 5-10 PSI. Put a 6”-12” length of clear plastic tubing on the bleeder ports. Then open the bleeder ports on the wheel cylinders one at a time and bleed until the bubbles are gone. I use a 2 liter soda bottle with a coat hanger to catch the fluid . DO NOT REUSE THE OLD BRAKE FLUID. Repeat the process until you have finished all 4 wheels. You will have to pump the sprayer several times to maintain the 5-10 PSI needed to do the job. When finished bleeding, loosen the pump handle to relieve the pressure, remove the stopper/modified master cylinder cap and test the pedal.





 

5spd GT

"the 5.0 owns all"
Founding Member
Aug 7, 2002
9,516
6
99
Arkansas
Oct 18, 2006
#5
  • Oct 18, 2006
  • #5
Does the 5.0L need DOT 3 Brake Fluid?
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Oct 18, 2006
#6
  • Oct 18, 2006
  • #6
5spd GT said:
Does the 5.0L need DOT 3 Brake Fluid?
Click to expand...
Yes.

See http://mjbobbitt.home.comcast.net/mustang/mc.html for more information
 

dragnazz5.0

My "0" key d0esn't w0rk, s0 I have t0 use the zer0
Nov 19, 2005
815
5
18
mooresville, nc
Oct 18, 2006
#7
  • Oct 18, 2006
  • #7
soak the bleeders with pb blaster before you try to loosen them....if youve never cracked them open. because replacing wheel cylinders is a pita because the bleeder broke off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Finished my Fox Hydroboost Install - Tips
  • Engineer Duane
  • Apr 9, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 5, 2025
Engineer Duane
E
M
Wheels-Tires Power Steering Pump
  • Magnet86
  • Mar 8, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Sep 10, 2025
gkomo
Question about power steering.
  • 2003 mustang gt modded
  • Oct 23, 2024
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
5
Views
432
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Nov 15, 2024
manicmechanic007
Place to Avoid: Jamison Auto Group in Gulfport, MS
  • D Durden
  • Oct 20, 2025
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
46
Views
2K
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Yesterday at 9:44 PM
Noobz347
W
How to bleed power steering correctly?
  • wheshkde
  • Feb 20, 2021
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
5
Views
7K
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Aug 17, 2021
manicmechanic007
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?