Power Steering Fluid Change..

[impulse001]

I was going to change my power steering fluid today, when I look down at it I see the hose going into it.. Tried taking it out but it was stuck on there real good, before I go tugging some more, just wanted to make sure thats what you use to drain it?

Also, I was told its a good idea to put in a bottle of Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak into it with the fluid, is this a good idea?

 

[5.0Droptop]

* takes knife and cuts hose,starts car drains fluid on its own, replaces hose*

 

[S&B]

5.0's dad is from compton

 

[5.0Droptop]

so. waddup fool!

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Be advised that changin the power steering fluid might make your pump run noisy afterwards. This is a common problem with Fords power steering pumps. I have had Mustangs where the pump was very noisy, then cleared up, and I have had some that were very noisy that soon quieted down after a fluid change.

To change the fluid, cut the hoses off with a sharp razor blade where the hoses go to the cooler...(by the lower radiator support). Cut the one at the power steering resivor too. That one will break on you EVERY TIME if you twist or bend it. Let it drain out. Then turn the wheel back and forth to pump the rest of it out of the rack and rack lines. Buy new power steering hoses from an auto parts store that sells them in bulk. You will spend under 5 bucks prolly less. I recommend a conventional power steering fluid with stop squeal...not stop leak. STP is good, Lucus is good too if you want to spend the extra money. It's a good idea to buy those new hoses because EVERY SINGLE FOX BODY I HAVE HAD LEAKED FROM THOSE.

Good Luck bro!!

 

[HISSIN50]

Type F ATF is specified.

I also undo the low pressure line at the cooler and put it in a bucket. Then I cycle fresh fluid in.

Do a proper bleed afterwards (front wheels in the air, turning back and forth just short of lock to lock).

Good luck.

 

[impulse001]

Thanks guys.. I got it done late last night, but not much fluid drained out.. I couldnt figure out how to get the high pressure (steel) line out, however.. I supposed to take the whole rod out?

 

[Jaswir]

i just changed my power steering rack today... with my luck when bleeding the system out it and put new power steering fluid in it made it quite it down alot! But for the first couple mins it was loud untill it was bleed! LoL the old fluid was not red!

 

[impulse001]

Well, when I flushed it.. I took the bottom hose (from the 2 that are next to the radiator) and put that in a bucket.. Flushed it though with the engine on.. Put it back and refilled.. Is that all right? To bleed it I just keep the car running and refill until its full?

 

[impulse001]

Anyone know if that right? lol.. The fluid is dark grey so I guess I have to do it all over again until its clean? I already flushed it with 5 quarts..

 

[HISSIN50]

Well, when I flushed it.. I took the bottom hose (from the 2 that are next to the radiator) and put that in a bucket.. Flushed it though with the engine on.. Put it back and refilled.. Is that all right? To bleed it I just keep the car running and refill until its full?

A couple things come to mind. After you disconnected the low-side line, did you plug the line going to the pump? Otherwise as you pour fluid into the reservoir, it gets dumped right back onto the ground (or bucket). Thus it never makes it through the rack to doing any flushing.

How did you have the engine running while flushing? My reservoir gets sucked down within 1-2 seconds - I cant even start the car and run up there fast enough to pour fluid. I disable the ignition and just crank it. Even doing it like that, the pump sucks down the fluid pretty fast. Just be sure to not overheat the starter motor.

 

[impulse001]

Oh, I was taking that hose off on the wrong side.. What do you use to plug it while you're flushing the fluid?

 

[HISSIN50]

Oh, I was taking that hose off on the wrong side.. What do you use to plug it while you're flushing the fluid?

I undo the line at the PS cooler that goes back to the reservoir. So I just put a bolt that fits into the rubber hose (it's 3/8" hose IIRC) in there a few turns to keep it from leaking. If you have some plugs, those would work great. Then I use some spare 3/8 Hose and connect it to the PS cooler and run my hose into the bucket.

Now fluid goes through the pump and rack and then through the cooler and into the bucket. And the plugged return line from the reservoir keeps the reservoir from leaking while we do this.

 

[impulse001]

Cool, i'll try to get that done this week then.. How many quarts of fluid do you normally use to flush it clean?

 

[RUNINAGT]

We have a power steering flush machine @ work. My p/s pump was not annoying loud but typical of a Ford. I used the flush machine and it did make it a little bit quieter.
Anyway the flush machine has a tube you put into the pump and it sucks the fluid out. I don't know how much fluid it gets outta the rack that way though. Like I said it worked for mine.

 

[HISSIN50]

Cool, i'll try to get that done this week then.. How many quarts of fluid do you normally use to flush it clean?

I do it till clear fluid starts coming out of the discharge hose. On the last one I did, I think I recall going through 4.5 quarts or so (that includes what was used to fill the system. Once it came out clear, I stopped, reconnected the lines and topped the system up (do your final check with it hot since hydraulic fluid expands with regard to temperature).

 

[lang williams]

wow i feel lazy...i just took a turkey baster an sucked the old out the resovior a few times. the final time i put half lucas half stp fluid.