Power Steering bleeding procedure
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Power Steering bleeding procedure
I recently replaced the ps pump, control valve and cylinder, along with new hoses and fluid. I am experiencing a pulsation problem during very low speed turning. Before I remove and replace anything, I want to try to thoroughly bleed the system again.
What is the recommended bleeding procedure?
What is the recommended bleeding procedure?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by mirrorfinishman
I recently replaced the ps pump, control valve and cylinder, along with new hoses and fluid. I am experiencing a pulsation problem during very low speed turning. Before I remove and replace anything, I want to try to thoroughly bleed the system again.
What is the recommended bleeding procedure?
What is the recommended bleeding procedure?
Are you sure your P/S belt isn't slipping?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
It is best to try and get the air out of the system BEFORE starting your engine. If you start your engine and try and expel the air, what happens is that the air goes through the pumping section of the pump and gets whipped together with the oil. You now have a milky froth that you now have to wait until the millions of tiny air bubbles condense together and work their way out of solution. Also, that milky fluid is actually compressible (due to all the entrapped air in solution). This compressible fluid causes the power assist to be erratic.
First, jack the front wheels off the ground. Rotate the steering wheel full lock to full lock about two dozen times without starting the engine. Recheck the fluid level and fill as required halfway through the procedure. Recheck and refill at the end.
Let the car down, start the engine and steer lock to lock a couple times. Recheck the fluid level, then go for a short ride. You should be done.
Once you have started your engine and created a lot of milky, foamy, fluid, it will require sitting overnight for a lot of the air to reform bigger bubbles and start working their way back to the pump reservoir. Try my deaireation technique the next morning.
JIM
First, jack the front wheels off the ground. Rotate the steering wheel full lock to full lock about two dozen times without starting the engine. Recheck the fluid level and fill as required halfway through the procedure. Recheck and refill at the end.
Let the car down, start the engine and steer lock to lock a couple times. Recheck the fluid level, then go for a short ride. You should be done.
Once you have started your engine and created a lot of milky, foamy, fluid, it will require sitting overnight for a lot of the air to reform bigger bubbles and start working their way back to the pump reservoir. Try my deaireation technique the next morning.
JIM
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 1
From: Edinburgh
And I'm told you avoid this by priming the pump. You connect up the pump but before you fit the belt you fill the system and turn the pulley over several times by hand which primes the system avoiding the need to bleed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Turning the pump driveshaft may circulate fluid in the pump, but it won't circulate fluid down into the assist cylinder. The only way to get air out of the assist cylinder is to cycle it full stroke.
Jim
Jim
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 4
From: Va
Jim Shea's procedure is the way to do. I replaced all components and hoses on my 71 vert and this is the procedure I ollowed, worked like a charm. The pump is an AGR performance, the instructions Jim described are exactly what AGR stated in the installation procedure.
you may also need to adjust the control valve to balance it.
you may also need to adjust the control valve to balance it.
