Power Steering Flush

Anybody have pictures to go with the write up because I’m more of a visual learner? Lol

 

I second that emotion

 

Thanks for posting this up @hladun !

Here’s a third vote for pics.

The only one that matters to me is the one to disconnect when flushing.

Anyone?


Thanks in advance!

 

I haven't seen any on TW. I used videos from Chris Fix to do mine. Even though he is not bleeding a Toyota, his PS bleed videos are the most informative and relevant I could find.

 

Here’s a pic from when I flushed mine. As you turn the wheel, have a container (I used a soup can) the old fluid to drain into.

 

what is the ID of that clear hose? thanks.

 

I think it is 3/8” ID. Same as what I used for the transmission line when I flushed the trans. In metric I can tell you it’s 9mm based on the shell casing used to block it, lol

 

thanks! seems simple enough i might tackle this this weekend.

 

take out the plunger and pour into giant syringe...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/25-60cc-2oz-CATHETER-TIP-Easy-Glide-SYRINGES-60mL-NEW-SYRINGE-ONLY-NO-NEEDLE/122275908385?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

You can suck the fluid out by attaching a hose to the end of the giant syringe, also.

 

i have that problem all the time....


















i wish.

 

Did my Power Steering flush today. It was easier than I expected, took me about the same amount of time as doing my oil change, going slow.

Took some ideas from other posts I've seen. Siphoned out the old fluid, plugged the return barb(?) on the reservoir.

I happened to have an extra length of hose, that could fit inside the return line. Then ran it to a place I could see, which happened to be on the passenger side. Viewing from the gap between the bottom of the windshield and open hood. I've seen some people using a male/male hose barb for this connection. But as far as I could tell, there isn't enough return pressure to need one of those. The factory hose clamp was enough to prevent any leaking.

Then found a small funnel that fit inside the reservoir. Harbor Freight sells them in a multipiece set. Overfilled with Valvoline Max Life, and turned lock to lock once, then filled up some more. I estimate that you could turn full lock in both directions twice, before having to top off again. But I was extra careful, and topped off after each lock to lock. Lost track of how many times I did this, but it wasn't much.

Some people have asked how much fluid you need, I found 1 quart to be more than enough. I used the entire bottle to make sure the flush was thorough. Fluid color turned red once 2/3 of the bottle for me.



I also used a clamp to keep the extended hose from wandering off. If your careful enough, you can manage to lose less than a shot glass worth of fluid during the entire process. I've made a bigger mess doing an oil change.



This was my old fluid.

 

Fwiw, you do not NEED to hook up a hose or anything. I flushed mine by simply filling the reservoir, sticking a jar on the hard line and making a few turns of the wheel and topping off the res. after each time I turned the wheel a few times. Just point that out for anyone stressed about finding a hose w/ a proper I/D or whatever. No need to go buy one and add to the cost of this if you dont have to.

 

I don't have jack stands so I used a "Mellisa Ethridge Device" (turkey baster) to remove 90% of the fluid from the reservoir and replace with clean fluid. I did it 3x over this past summer after driving about 500 miles between each fluid change and ended up using about 2qts. of ATF total. The fluid in the reservoir is visibly much lighter and seems "cleaner". I know that it is not as good as a flush, but it is certainly better than not doing anything.

 

If you don't have jack stands, park the front wheels on 3 pieces of card board each. This should make it easier to turn the wheels with the engine off. Turn the wheel to one side before shutting the engine off..

At the auto parts store, get some vacuum port caps to plug the return barb on the reservoir. Around here, they have a package that comes with several different sizes in different colors.

Only go from one lock to the other. You'll suck the reservoir dry if you go back to where you started. Ask me how I know...

 

Solid write up! I just flushed my transmission so I have fluid laying around. I am going to knock this out over the weekend.

 

Hello everyone,

Do we need to take care of the air that can possibly go on the circuit if we drain too much when we disconnect the return line?

Also are there pictures?

 

YOUTUBE

 

Well done! thanks for this, finally it was pretty easy

 

Great write up. Something I thought was going to be a pain was so simple with these instructions. Took less than 1/2hr to get it done.
I used the Valvoline Max life full synthetic same as @Mudman
Thanks to the OP.

 

Shout out to Larzzz for the tip about parking on a few pieces of cardboard instead of raising your truck on jack stands, worked like a charm