Hey guys -

I'm noticing that my car has a little 'directional bias'. That is to say - turning the wheel right is slightly more 'effective' than turning it left. The car is aligned perfectly and does not pull, necessarily. It just seems to be a little 'uneven' in the way the wheel feels. Sometimes, I know, cross rotating the tires can fix that. Tried that. I was recently told by a suspension shop that sometimes flushing (and therefore cleaning) the power steering system (pump/gearbox) can also solve that.

So my question(s) is (are), how is this done? Has anyone else had this issue? Does this seem like a logical solution (it seems to be to me, the way he explained it).

Thanks for all the great input in advance!

M

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'89 TA - 5.7 TPI (L05, was originally a 305TPI), T5-WC, 3.08 Posi (Drum)

 

just pull the lines and you'll have more fluid coming out than you know what to do with, or at least that's how it goes for me when i take a PS line off. then reconnect and refill.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

 

check your idler arm height. :-)

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89 Formula
96 Impala SS

 

Not exactly sure what you mean by "effective", but if you mean the car itself actually physicaly turns better one way then it may be a weight bias issue. Try it with another person about the same weight as you in the passenger side and compaire.

If you mean the steering wheel has a different amount of resistance when turning opposite ways then you may indeed have a funky power assist. Don't forget to check the belt too. A slightly slipping belt can cause that problem.

a flush and new fluid may help. I highly recommend Redline or simular syntheic power steering fluid, but any will do.

It will take at least two large (1qt) containers to thoroughly flush the system, maybe three.

The correct way to thoroughly flush the power steering fluid follows:

Disconnect the fluid return line that goes from the steering box back to the reservoir. Disconnect it at the reservoir. It will be the slip on hose on a nipple on the reservoir not the hose with the threaded fitting that is the pressure side.
Stick the loose end of the return hose into a bucket or drain pan.
Allow all of the fluid to drain from the reservoir and hose that will.
Then plug up the nipple on the reservoir with a cap plug, a large vacuum nipple plug, or a short piece of hose with a bolt in the end, what ever you have.
Fill the reservoir with fluid and start the engine. The pump will pump the new fluid through the gear box pushing out the old fluid into the drain pan. Add fluid to the reservoir as needed. You may need to use a piece of hose and/or a long funnel to do this without getting into the belts, pulleies or other moving stuff. It may be easier for you to fill with the engine stopped, then start it and run for a while then shut it off to fill and keep repeating. Occasionally turn the steering wheel back and forth while doing this. Someone helping can do this while you're flushing to make this easier. Watch the fluid coming out of the hose into the drain pan. When only new clean fluid is coming out instead of the old dirty stuff you are pretty much done.
Remove the plug from the reservoir and quickly reattach the return hose.
Top off the reservoir as needed.

Drink a cold one to a job well done

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Tracy /AKA IROCKZ4me
'86 IROC-Z Camaro
"Cogito ergo zoom"

• 355 cid
• AFR heads
• Arizona Speed & Marine hydraulic roller cam w/ AFR hydra-rev kit
• modified SLP runners
• TRW forged pistons/ceramic coated
• fully balanced
• Edelbrock headers/ceramic coated
• SLP cat-back
• Paxton supercharger
• Nitrous Express nitrous oxide

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[This message has been edited by IROCKZ4me (edited November 10, 2001).]

 

Excellent, guys, thanks!

And the suspension is all brand new (the entire suspension, front and rear, was rebuilt 36 hours ago. Thanks goes to Spohn and Moog for the very cool parts!)

And yes, I am talking about resistance. It feels like theres more resistance one direction than the other. I will try to flush the system.

By the way, is there any chemical product I can use to flush the system and make sure its *really* clean?

Thanks again!

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'89 TA - 5.7 TPI (L05, was originally a 305TPI), T5-WC, 3.08 Posi (Drum)

 

I don't know of any chemical or solvent that you can use that traces would not remain in the system and degrade the new fluid you put in.
Just run lots of new fluid through and be sure to operate the system (turn the wheel back and forth lock to lock repeatedly) while flushing.
There should be no build up (like carbon inside of an engine) to clean out.
The main thing is to displace the old fluid. It may have water in it as well as the viscosity and lubrication being poor. This hurts the hydraulic capabilities as well as the lubricating abillities of the fluid.

 

i need to flush my power steering because im installing a rebuilt box.anyone disagree with this method?