Power Steering Flush and Reservoir Cleaning

im having a problem with the ATF just blowing itself all out of the resevoir...the ONLY thing I can find points to this screen

anyone have this experience?

 

Air in the system?

 

So i have been told you need to lift the wheels off the ground and I have been told you don’t need to. I don't have access to my jack stands right now and it needs to get done. Can I change it without lifting the front wheels?

 

You don't have to but its better for your tires to lift the wheels, rather than turning them back and forth on the ground in the same spot over and over. Also if you have big heavy larger tires your power steering probably won't like being forced to move them back and forth while stationary on solid ground.

You could put some cardboard on the ground under the front tires and it would keep them from getting damaged like they would on pavement, and be less grippy than solid pavement/asphalt.

I'm referring to doing this while doing the turkey baster method btw

 

Since the old screen was disintegrating, I bought a new cheap pump for around $50.

Shelved the pump and used the new reservoir and o-ring with the original OEM pump.

 

I did the turkey baster one and when I took out as much fluid as I could I was trying to find/see the mesh filter, but couldnt see it. I think the previous owner removed it. I wanted to take out the reservoir but my 12mm socket was to big. Can I just add an inline filter and be okay? Or should I call dealer and order the o ring and the mesh filter(idk if they even sell this thing seperately, I dont think so cus suposedly you cant take it out w/o damage). If I have no mesh filter should I just find another reservoir instead of inline filter? Thx!

 

I doubt they sell the mesh for the reservoir separately. You'd have to replace the whole reservoir. One choice is you try to grab one from a wrecking yard like PicknPull. Another option is you buy one from somebody. There's a guy, Josh Young, who parts out 3rd and 4th Gen 4runners in Washington. 3rd Gen 4runners have the same 3.4 liter engine so I bet he would have a reservoir he could sell you for a fair price. The other option is what you mentioned, installing an inline filter. If you go that route, put it in the return line before the reservoir. I recommend a magnetic style filter like this one: https://amzn.to/35p6heN I use them for my trans and power steering. They are rated to last of 30k miles.

 

yeah ima go the magn filter route, just ordered one off amamzon, thx Tim

 

I found a much better way to replace the fluid. I used one of the small electric fluid pumps like the ones you can drain the oil thru the dipstick.
I blocked the input line to the reservoir and hooked this pump up the disconnected low pressure line that feeds into the reservoir.
I turned the pump on it it draws the fluid from the reservoir thru the whole system and out into a small container. I just kept adding fluid to the reservoir until the fluid that was draining into the container was clear and clean.

And I also run Mobil 1 synthetic ATF and magnefine filter on the low pressure return line now..


Doubt you can just get that screen but its probably just designed to collect the large chunks like the ATf filter in the transmission pan. Magnefine will do a much better job. I also run one in the ATF cooler line of every vehicle I have owned.

If you want a new reservoir you can get one on Amazon

https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-24062-603-676.aspx

 

which way does the arrow on the filter point to? the firewall/ground or the reservoir? sorry filter is on the mail and hust wana make sure, thx

 

On the new designed magnefines (steel rather than nylon) one end is marked OUT. Hook the out end to reservoir line .If you have or or getting one of the older nylon ones the flow arrow will be in the direction of the line back to the reservoir. Dug up one the new filters i have and it looks like this. Its marked out only. This is the end that will feed reservoir. And I use the ones with the 3/8 inch connections and 3/8 inch ATF cooler hose (since this fluid is ATF and I had lots of it lying around)