Changing power steering fluid
Changing power steering fluid
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Discussion

Ireland

Original Poster:

3,517 posts

243 months

Sunday 1st April 2007
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My power steering fluid has been looking a bit "milky" (moisture, methinks) and I've decided to change it.

I followed the procedure in the service manual for bleeding the system and, once it was done, on the first bit of the test drive the steering was very heavy but lightened up a lot before I got home.

The front feels better than it did but still isn't right.

Is it worth changing the fluid a couple of times to make sure all the system is clean?


And for what it's worth I know I'm not being over-fussy about my steering.

I got to drive alinton 's car last Sunday (thanks Andy) and his feels like a "normal" cars steering whereas mine feels very heavy.

This is one of the last things I want to get sorted fully on the car so I can enjoy it to the full this summer
driving

Ireland

Original Poster:

3,517 posts

243 months

Monday 2nd April 2007
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bump

jbvipercerb

246 posts

249 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2007
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Sorry for a late answer (or a guess at an answer) if you check your fluid again and its nice and clean it should be ok, Ive found the best way to bleed the air out of pas systems it jack the car up, so theres no weight on the front wheels, fill the reservoir up, start it up and turn the steering lock to lock until it goes light, check the fluid for level and white milky colour (air in the fluid). When its all clear it right.
Any stiffness in the steering could be a few things, tyre pressures, column u/j's (can only be properly checked when there off the vehicle) Power steering pump or drive ( the drive is the smallest woodruf key you can think of, but smaller!) or even a flattened or blocked hose, siezing up track rod end or ball joint.

byker28i

91,719 posts

246 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2007
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Not done it on a TVR but on my old Capri you had to turn the steering from full lock to full lock, holding it there for a moment.

Ireland

Original Poster:

3,517 posts

243 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2007
quotequote all
byker28i said:
Not done it on a TVR but on my old Capri you had to turn the steering from full lock to full lock, holding it there for a moment.

That is basically the TVR procedure as well, as per the service maunal, with it needing to be held at lock for 8 to 10 seconds and being repeated a couple of times.

The UJ's haven't been out, just sprayed with loads of lubricant in place, but everything else seems to be ok for wear.

I never thought of the possible flattened hose. banghead

I do notice an improvement since I changed the fluid but I only did about 2 miles since Sunday in it.

I'll try to check the hose tonight and drive it for a while as well.

Any excuse .....

driving driving driving

brummiewedge

5,284 posts

250 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2007
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I have just rebuilt mine from dry, to start with it was orrible, i've done around 150miles now and its almost normal! The rack is less than 12 months old but i'm running an LS1 pump.

Ireland

Original Poster:

3,517 posts

243 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2007
quotequote all
brummiewedge said:
I have just rebuilt mine from dry, to start with it was orrible, i've done around 150miles now and its almost normal! The rack is less than 12 months old but i'm running an LS1 pump.

We were trying to source the bits needed to rebuild one on a previous thread on here.

What's needed?


And what's an LS1 pump?

brummiewedge

5,284 posts

250 months

Wednesday 4th April 2007
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I have an LS1 engine in my car, so it has an LS pump mated to the standard rack. Yours is a Range Rover pump? mounted in the depths!