Power steering help needed

As the title states, I need some help with my power steering.

I pulled the rack out last weekend to put new bushings in. Got them in, got the rack back in, and power steering worked OK for a bit. I bled it for a little bit and then drove it around and it just acted like there was air in the system. The power steering would work for the most part and cut out every once in a while. Same thing happened the next day so I tried bleeding it some more but nothing. Skip ahead to the next day and I have ZERO power steering.

So my power steering progressively got worse and worse. Called and talked to Steve at Camelback Toyota (EXCELLENT guy, super knowledgable, definitely recommend Camelback for all of your toyota parts needs) and he thinks my power steering is just really dirty. I put a new reservoir in today so it would have a new filter in it and once I fired it up it immediately turned the new clear fluid (Lucas oil PS fluid) almost black. Drove it around the block and still no PS. I'm going to jack the truck up tomorrow and flush the system with ATF until it comes clean and then use ATF in it and hope that fixes it. Any other suggestions short of ordering a new pump and rack? The pump whined slightly before this all started but barely, and it hasn't changed at all. I'm not sure what else to do at this point other than start throwing money (that I don't have) at it.

 

If you have a power steering pressure gauge you can get a reading of what it's putting out. A while back I had a chevy suburban come in with no power steering. No leaks or anything. Problem was the pulley drive sheered off the pump drive inside the pump.

 

It’s pumping fluid, I filled the reservoir and had someone turn the truck over and it came out of the return line. It’s building some sort of pressure but not working.

 

But how much pressure? Can you rack the truck and turn the wheels easily? Make sure the rack isn't binding.

 

Rack the truck and turn the wheels easily meaning turn the wheel easily with the wheels in the air?

 

if I turned lack that fast, maybe you lost your pump

 

Yes

 

I’ll check in the morning.

 

I just replaced my ps pump. Twas not to bad a swap all in all.

I found a video on YouTube, where the guy had the front wheels in the air and started pushing the wheel lock to lock with the return line to the reservoir draining into a funnel. When the fluid started coming out the same color it went in as he stopped and reconnected the hose. Filled the reservoir to the low mark, and started the truck and moved the wheels lock to lock again and purged out any remaining air.
It worked well for me. Refill after every time you move the wheels from one side to the other.

 

I’m just not wanting to throw $300 on a ps pump, I’m hoping it’s a cheap fix

 

Flush it first then. If you purge all the old fluid out and the issue remains, is it the pump or the rack?

3 quarts of ATF is under $30 I would consider that a cheap fix.

 

That’s where I’m at. IF problem persists then I’m just shooting in the dark for answers

 

Ayup.

 

Flushed the lines today and tested the rack to see if it binds up. Doesn’t bind, and with the wheels off the ground it’s effortless to turn the wheel. Little to no force needed. Pump is still pushing so I’m not positive where to go at this point. Does anybody know how much pressure these systems are supposed to make? I’m trying to find someone who can pressure test the system to see if my pump is actually pumping but just not making the pressure needed. Or if I have an air leak in a line somewhere

 

It’s probably the pump

 

If you have a leak it will be pissing fluid. Not air. Chances are your pump is fubar

 

And you're using the right fluid? Not sure how crucial that is, but our trucks use ATF (Dexron 3 IIRC) and you mentioned you were using PS fluid earlier.

 

Yea, switched out to the proper ATF today

 

That’s what I’m thinking as well. $300 from Toyota just hurts to pay lmao

 

Could always check out rockauto. They've got some good stuff.