Proper way to bleed or prime new Power Steering?
03-12-2004, 11:40 AM
#1
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Proper way to bleed or prime new Power Steering?
Ok, so I finally have my PS on my 68 (march setup with remote resevoire)
Start up, and I get bursts of power steering and the fluid is REALLY foamy (but no leaks!!!!!! :hurray: )
I am thinking that I need to do something, but what?
Start up, and I get bursts of power steering and the fluid is REALLY foamy (but no leaks!!!!!! :hurray: )
I am thinking that I need to do something, but what?
03-12-2004, 02:03 PM
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Melting Slicks
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Re: Proper way to bleed or prime new Power Steering? (BigBadOrange)
Jack the car up to get the front wheels off the ground. With the engine off run the steering from lock to lock 3 times. Fill the res. Repeat until no more fluid is needed in the res. Start the engine and let the engine idle for 3 minutes. Check the res. Run the steering from lock to lock and check the res. You should be ready to go.
[Modified by 1979toy, 1:04 PM 3/12/2004]
[Modified by 1979toy, 1:04 PM 3/12/2004]
03-12-2004, 02:11 PM
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Re: Proper way to bleed or prime new Power Steering? (BigBadOrange)
The best way to bleed a power steering system is to attach a vacuum pump to the pump reservoir and literally suck all the air out of the system. This is the way that the assembly plants originally filled the system.
Lacking vacuum equipment, the next best thing is to try and get as much air out of the gear, hoses, and pump as you can BEFORE starting the engine. This means filling the reservoir to FULL COLD mark on the capstick and working the steering wheel full lock to full lock many times. Check the fluid level in the reservoir and refill as needed. At some point you should see the air bubbles stop coming up into the reservoir. Then you can start the engine and again steer briefly lock to lock. Again, check the fluid level. Now drive the car about 10 miles. At the end of the drive, check the fluid level and check to see if the fluid is clear.
If it is clear and the pump is quiet, then you are ready to go.
If the fluid is milky (foamy) then you still had air in the system. You will usually hear a considerable amount of pump noise when you have foamy fluid. It will usually take an overnight sit for the air to make its way out of solution and end up in the reservoir.
Jim
Lacking vacuum equipment, the next best thing is to try and get as much air out of the gear, hoses, and pump as you can BEFORE starting the engine. This means filling the reservoir to FULL COLD mark on the capstick and working the steering wheel full lock to full lock many times. Check the fluid level in the reservoir and refill as needed. At some point you should see the air bubbles stop coming up into the reservoir. Then you can start the engine and again steer briefly lock to lock. Again, check the fluid level. Now drive the car about 10 miles. At the end of the drive, check the fluid level and check to see if the fluid is clear.
If it is clear and the pump is quiet, then you are ready to go.
If the fluid is milky (foamy) then you still had air in the system. You will usually hear a considerable amount of pump noise when you have foamy fluid. It will usually take an overnight sit for the air to make its way out of solution and end up in the reservoir.
Jim
03-12-2004, 05:25 PM
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Re: Proper way to bleed or prime new Power Steering? (BigBadOrange)
The air will come out eventually. But starting your engine with a system full of air will result in a lot of noise, erratic power assist, and it will take a LOT longer to work all of the air out.
03-12-2004, 09:06 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Re: Proper way to bleed or prime new Power Steering? (1979toy)
Jack the car up to get the front wheels off the ground. With the engine off run the steering from lock to lock 3 times. Fill the res. Repeat until no more fluid is needed in the res. Start the engine and let the engine idle for 3 minutes. Check the res. Run the steering from lock to lock and check the res. You should be ready to go.
[Modified by 1979toy, 1:04 PM 3/12/2004]
[Modified by 1979toy, 1:04 PM 3/12/2004]
