steering bleeding
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
steering bleeding
After the sucessful, but long process of replacing the balancer, I hooked it all back up and the steering feels like it has air pockets in it. What is the best, easiest way to get rid of the air? How is the system bled?
Thanks
Chris
Thanks
Chris
Pro
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
From: Eagle IDAHO
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Oh Oh!
Mornin Bro. I assume that you loosened the fitting on the PS rack near the loop when you reinstalled the balancer. If you did, you undoubtedly lost some fluid. Mine always did. The PS should purge itself with the engine running as long as you have sufficient fluid. Hopefully you are not experiencing the beginnings of "morning sickness" in your rack. A quick check on rack condition is to stick your finger into the fluid and examine the fluid color. If it is very very dark, and your car has more than say 85 k miles, you probably have impending rack failure. Rack replacement is not too difficult. Check the Tech Tips section of the forum for Craig Marcho's how to do it. But you're looking at around 450 to 500 smackers for a replacement rack. For a better explanation of "MS" symtoms, do a search for the term on the forum.
Ohio Goziamus. (excuse the spelling)
Ohio Goziamus. (excuse the spelling)
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: steering bleeding (okinawa86vette)
Chris,
To bleed a power steering system, merely cycle the steering wheel from lock to lock, several times. This is best done with the load off of the front wheels. If you have continued to drive the car, the system may already be bled.
Glad to hear the damper is back on. I'm going to read that post, next.
To bleed a power steering system, merely cycle the steering wheel from lock to lock, several times. This is best done with the load off of the front wheels. If you have continued to drive the car, the system may already be bled.
Glad to hear the damper is back on. I'm going to read that post, next.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
Re: steering bleeding (CFI-EFI)
Thanks for the help. Its getting better the more I drive it. The resevoir (spelling?) emptied itself when I did it. Thats the exact fitting I pulled off. That parts car I have is a Z51 and the odometer only shows 44k miles. I am going to go head and pull the rack out of that car since it has the quicker ratio steering. I think there is water in the fluid since it is discolored.
What is a good way to flush the system when I swap the racks?
Again, thank you guys for all the help with this project
Chris
What is a good way to flush the system when I swap the racks?
Again, thank you guys for all the help with this project
Chris
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: steering bleeding (okinawa86vette)
Disconnect the outlet line from the rack at the resevoir and put that hose running from the rack into a waste container. Cap off the return at the resevoir inlet. Fill the resevoir and run the engine while pouring fresh fluid into the resevoir until the "waste" runs clean. I would do it twice. First with the old rack to clean the old pump, resevoir, and hoses. Then with the "new" rack installed to clean it. By doing it twice, you avoid running the known contaminated fluid through the "new" rack.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
Re: steering bleeding (CFI-EFI)
Which line is the outlet line from the rack? Is it the one with the loop in the middle or the one off to the passenger side? I would assume the one on the passenger side, but I'd like to make sure.
Thanks.
Chris
Thanks.
Chris
