'85 power steering noise
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,418
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From: California
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude's Donor '06
'85 power steering noise
I have noticed that when I turn the steering wheel more than a hair at low speeds, 5mph and under, the power steering makes a sound. The sound is the same as when you turn the wheel fully and max out the pump on my other cars. I went for a short drive yesterday around the neighborhood and I didn't notice the sound. I figure it is a sign that the pump is on its way out. Ideas?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
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I believe you are describing what many on the forum call 'PS pump morning sickness.' One cheap fix would be to flush the fluid and put in new Valvoline synthetic PS fluid... I did three separate flushes of mine, and added a little lucas PS fluid in each time- the difference was unbelievable.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 380
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From: Farmington Hills MI
I recently added Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak to the PS reservoir (had to remove some of the fluid to make room for it). I did not have an external leak, but this product was highly recommended to condition seals and fix these kinds of problems. I am always skeptical of these kinds of claims, but this stuff works wonders! Not only did it quiet the rack, it also seems to have cured the morning sickness overall. For $8, it was worth it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Yup, morning sickness, You can even use a turkey baster to siphon most of the spent fluid out and refill with a premium-quality synthetic as others have suggested. I did and my rack's like night and day now!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: California
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St. Jude's Donor '06
I have a half-day at work tomorrow so I will get right on that along with a complete cleaning/detailing. BTW, do places accept PS/brake/ATF/non-motor oil fluids?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
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Originally Posted by TaylorMutts
I recently added Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak to the PS reservoir (had to remove some of the fluid to make room for it). I did not have an external leak, but this product was highly recommended to condition seals and fix these kinds of problems. I am always skeptical of these kinds of claims, but this stuff works wonders! Not only did it quiet the rack, it also seems to have cured the morning sickness overall. For $8, it was worth it.
I see you had good experience with the product too... I had 'hard spots' in my steering that it even cured... I was
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 375
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From: Aurora Co
Originally Posted by ruffneckxx
I have noticed that when I turn the steering wheel more than a hair at low speeds, 5mph and under, the power steering makes a sound. The sound is the same as when you turn the wheel fully and max out the pump on my other cars. I went for a short drive yesterday around the neighborhood and I didn't notice the sound. I figure it is a sign that the pump is on its way out. Ideas?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by ruffneckxx
I have a half-day at work tomorrow so I will get right on that along with a complete cleaning/detailing. BTW, do places accept PS/brake/ATF/non-motor oil fluids?I'm not sure...
they do if you call it 'used motor oil'....
not that I would ever do that
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Team Owner
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by TaylorMutts
You mean you just can't fill a milk jug and throw it in a dumpster? I would not do that, but have heard of guys that do. 
Lucas flows like frozen mud on a cold morning, so don't overdose your powersteering system with it. You guys say it's a quick fix for a leaking rack, but it sounds more like a quick death for the PS pump pushing that thick stuff through it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
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Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Lucas flows like frozen mud on a cold morning, so don't overdose your powersteering system with it. You guys say it's a quick fix for a leaking rack, but it sounds more like a quick death for the PS pump pushing that thick stuff through it.
sounds, to me, like you should reread my original thread...
you're right though, i wouldn't wanna put just lucas fluid in. That would be hard on a pump having to push that through...
My rack was not leaking, and if the lucas stuff is used right, the difference could be saving a worn rack from replacement... At least this has been my experience....
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,418
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From: California
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St. Jude's Donor '06
Well, its done. I do hear/feel a difference. I bought 1 of these
and 3 of these 
I ended up using a baster to get out all that I could from the reservoir, squirting about 1-2 ounces of the Lucas, filling the rest with the synthetic, running the engine and repeating 3 times. I added a little more lucas the last time. Only ended up using 1 bottle of PS fluid. Took it for a drive and the steering is looser and no more noise.
Thanks a bunch
and 3 of these I ended up using a baster to get out all that I could from the reservoir, squirting about 1-2 ounces of the Lucas, filling the rest with the synthetic, running the engine and repeating 3 times. I added a little more lucas the last time. Only ended up using 1 bottle of PS fluid. Took it for a drive and the steering is looser and no more noise.
Thanks a bunch
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
I can't get the noise out of my system. It does it when it gets hot, and I've tried everything to bleed it. I'm going to replace the pump eventually. It's not boiling fluid, because it's Mobil 1 and I'm running a cooler.
I have no idea what causes the hard spots in the steering, i don't have any. Honestly, I don't know much about the ps system
I have no idea what causes the hard spots in the steering, i don't have any. Honestly, I don't know much about the ps system
