Draining power steering fluid .
Draining power steering fluid .
Author
Discussion

SILICONEKID345HP

Original Poster:

14,997 posts

255 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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What is the easiest way to drain all of the power steering fluid from the system .

phazed

22,455 posts

228 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
Disconnect the pipes from the rack.

What do you want to achieve?

Change of fluid?

SILICONEKID345HP

Original Poster:

14,997 posts

255 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
I want it to drive in a straight line and not have not to hold the steering wheel to stop it shooting to the left .

phazed

22,455 posts

228 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Disconnect the return pipe from the reservoir, insert it in a plastic bottle, run the engine and keep topping up the reservoir until the fluid runs clean.

bobfather

11,194 posts

279 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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^^This^^

Easiest way by far, the flow rate is higher than you might expect so make sure you're ready with a big bucket and plenty of new fluid.

JWzed

185 posts

149 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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What makes you believe you have a power steering problem? Worth checking to see if you have a front caliper piston sticking. Only a thought.scratchchin

phazed

22,455 posts

228 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
quotequote all
bobfather said:
^^This^^

Easiest way by far, the flow rate is higher than you might expect so make sure you're ready with a big bucket and plenty of new fluid.
Did this to a Fiesta ST yesterday. We got through more fluid in less than 30 seconds then you would imagine!

Fluid started black and about 4 L later was a perfect clean red!

Sardonicus

19,341 posts

245 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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phazed said:
Disconnect the return pipe from the reservoir, insert it in a plastic bottle, run the engine and keep topping up the reservoir until the fluid runs clean.
What Peter said if you can move the rack from long to lock at the same time this will evacuate the old oil from the piston chamber too ......... however this is not your pulling problem Darren frown its possible on certain racks if assembled incorrectly but that would go to full lock soon as you run the engine all by itself the car would be un-drivable too

SILICONEKID345HP

Original Poster:

14,997 posts

255 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
quotequote all
I can actualy see the steering wheel move to the left on its own .Faster I travel quicker it shoots to the left .At low speeds around 25 mph its fine .Its alot easier to steer to the left. Geometry as been checked twice .Itzs stopping me enjoying the car .This why iiam thinking about a Suburu rack , far superior.

Sardonicus

19,341 posts

245 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
quotequote all
SILICONEKID345HP said:
I can actualy see the steering wheel move to the left on its own .Faster I travel quicker it shoots to the left .At low speeds around 25 mph its fine .Its alot easier to steer to the left. Geometry as been checked twice .Itzs stopping me enjoying the car .This why iiam thinking about a Suburu rack , far superior.
If that's the case Daz then the control/spool valve is damaged/faulty a very very unusual fault for obvious reasons, why dont you fit a shorter fan belt thus bypassing the power steering pump and then see if it pulls scratchchin the steering will be heavier so take this into account when you drive it and for a short period only

SILICONEKID345HP

Original Poster:

14,997 posts

255 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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How long could I drive it without the pump connected and what size belt would I need ?

SILICONEKID345HP

Original Poster:

14,997 posts

255 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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Which pipe is the return on the reservoir? If i disconnect it will it come out rhe return hose and the reservoir connection .




bobfather

11,194 posts

279 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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SILICONEKID345HP said:
Which pipe is the return on the reservoir? If i disconnect it will it come out rhe return hose and the reservoir connection .
If I recall correctly it's the one connected to the side rather than the bottom. There's a baffle in the reservoir, I used a large syringe to pull out as much fluid as possible, basically to the top of the baffle. You'll need some absorbent paper under the pot prior to removing the pipe because there's some spillage from the pipe when you disconnect

WinstonWolf

72,863 posts

263 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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SILICONEKID345HP said:
How long could I drive it without the pump connected and what size belt would I need ?
Till you come to the first T junction, it's heavy as a bd without the PAS connected.

Sardonicus

19,341 posts

245 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
bobfather said:
If I recall correctly it's the one connected to the side rather than the bottom. There's a baffle in the reservoir, I used a large syringe to pull out as much fluid as possible, basically to the top of the baffle. You'll need some absorbent paper under the pot prior to removing the pipe because there's some spillage from the pipe when you disconnect
Thats not a baffle Bob its a sintered brass strainer like they use for gases i.e NOS your correct the bigger fitting on the res is supply and the smaller return