Changing power stearing fluid is a GOOD IDEA!

[Gary - K7GLD]

DAMN, I hate it when I'm wrong - even tho' I'm so GOOD at it...



Indeed, there IS a fluid connection between the PS pump an PB master cylinder - dunno exactly HOW it works, but there it is...

 

[JasonCzerak]

DAMN, I hate it when I'm wrong - even tho' I'm so GOOD at it...



Indeed, there IS a fluid connection between the PS pump an PB master cylinder - dunno exactly HOW it works, but there it is...

I may look stupid, act stupid, ask stupid questions. but I'm not THAT stupid. :-laf



On my truck I've known since day one that the PS does in fact power the PB. And the brakes did in fact feel more "secure" after a fluid change.



How it works. I haven't a clue either. I'd like to read up on it some day. Maybe an expect on the subject and describe the mechanics of it all?



And for a few days after the fluid change my steering wheel jitteryness did go away. however it did come back! then I had my rear u-joints go and the drive line guys shown me the light.



If changing the PS fluid fixed u-joints. We'd have alot of happy ppl on this site!!!!

 

[BTowler]

Instead of using a large vacuum assist booster our trucks receive a hydraulic assist from the power steering system. As with any hydraulic system, bad fluid will affect performance.

 

[RDyson]

We'd have even more happy people if the PS fluid would fix the ball joints!!!!!!:-laf

 

[telliott]

i think new PS fluid will make me go faster too:-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[BTowler]

Even better, it will fix your lp & VP issues!!! :-laf

 

[BTowler]

i think new PS fluid will make me go faster too:-laf :-laf :-laf

Shows what you know! You have to wash your wheels for it to go faster!!!:-laf :-laf

 

[JasonCzerak]

Shows what you know! You have to wash your wheels for it to go faster!!!:-laf :-laf

I've put all my stickers under the hood. Whats that good for? 10hp/20# torque?

 

[BTowler]

Depends on the stickers, sparkplug stickers will actually drop your power output!:-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[DerekW]

Not sure what you're trying to say regarding the rear brakes, as I doubt there's any correlation to replacing the PS fluid.

our trucks have hydroboost braking system. which means instead of having a vacumm booster like on a gasonline engined pickup we pretty much have a hydraulic brake booster to miminumize pedal pressure needed to apply the brakes.







On a further note guys I have been through power steering pump hell and was changing pumps once a week after i had a hydraulic hose shop repair my line that got a hole in the aluminum tubing. they choked down the return line and when I remounted the line it caused cavatation which destroy original Power steering pump. installed many advanced auto parts power steering pumps and found they are junk. the fluid they lived the longest with was mopar ATF. later I found out these pumps dont like power steering fluid and only accept mopar atf. also I am running a new pump from mopar and replaced the line, and run high dollar mopar atf and havent had problem since. Steering a 8,000lb QC Long bed DRW truck with antispin rear differential, and heavy cummins supported by stock tires isnt easy at slow speeds and had to make a 3 point turn to park in my ussual 2 parkin spaces at once. add bigger tires and you will find its just a pain in the butt. just my experience. oh and not to mention after my final power steering pump failed I broke the steering column trying to steer the truck on the way home in the apartment complex parking lot that was another $1,100 dollars. SO all I am saying is use the correct fluid power steering fluid is not acceptable and dont use a bunch of idiots (2 geniuses to destroy my line and destroy several pumps) to fix your truck even if you have the broken part in hand.

 

[Grumpytrkr]

For some reason, I've kept the same PS fluid in the truck for just over 80,000 miles.

Ya know, I've followed this thread, and found it interesting. So, I went down to my local truck repair facility, and they told me that the same machine that they can use for back flushing the auto transmission can be used for back flushing the P/S unit. I was told that "We do it on Ford's all the time. "



So..... I guess I will have mine backflushed, then at every oil change just use a baster to remove what fluid is in the pump, and replace with new. I'm up on that side anyway to change the fuel filter, what the heck.



Regards,

 

[DerekW]

Ya know, I've followed this thread, and found it interesting. So, I went down to my local truck repair facility, and they told me that the same machine that they can use for back flushing the auto transmission can be used for back flushing the P/S unit. I was told that "We do it on Ford's all the time. "



Regards,

back when i was going through power steering pump mayhem, one of the shops I contacted was AGR performace. this is their area of work. they told me that the 3rd generation dodges are running the same power steering pump as on for fords. he never told what model/year fords though.

 

[DerekW]

Instead of using a large vacuum assist booster our trucks receive a hydraulic assist from the power steering system. As with any hydraulic system, bad fluid will affect performance.

wow didnt read what you said yesturday when I typed my reponse but you tookt he works right out of my mouth

 

[DerekW]

hmmmmm... nearing 160K on original PS fluid. It has a slight leak, but it's never low. I've wondered about changing it, but all I ever get is weird looks.

as with brake fluid from the master cylinder down to the calipers and wheel cylinders, and clutch components. power steering fluid get the same attention. nobody every considers changing these fluid until they have to cuz something failed.



I personally notice increase in braking performance when I bleed alot of brake fluid out of the bleeder screws. so I bleed the brakes every 2 months. but I am the guy whos hard on the brakes running trailers without connecting electrical connections to run brakes (to many times have I destroyed a brake controller in my truck cuz many people cant wire up a trailer properly and wire their trucks backwords as a result so I short a brake controller when I hook to other peoples trailers doing favors for the people). and many other instances of me being hard on brakes. oh and I have found better brake fluid performance when changing rotors when warped rather than turning them on machine. the brake fluid seems to be affective longer. TRY BLEEDING YOUR BRAKE FLUID YOU MAY TRY THAT AS A LAST RESORT BEFORE UPGRADING YOUR BRAKES WITH AFTERMARKET BRAKES ON WHAT EVER YOU DRIVE. I read up on a racing article somewhere and thats where I got this idea from.

 

[JasonCzerak]

as with brake fluid from the master cylinder down to the calipers and wheel cylinders, and clutch components. power steering fluid get the same attention. nobody every considers changing these fluid until they have to cuz something failed.



I personally notice increase in braking performance when I bleed alot of brake fluid out of the bleeder screws. so I bleed the brakes every 2 months. but I am the guy whos hard on the brakes running trailers without connecting electrical connections to run brakes (to many times have I destroyed a brake controller in my truck cuz many people cant wire up a trailer properly and wire their trucks backwords as a result so I short a brake controller when I hook to other peoples trailers doing favors for the people). and many other instances of me being hard on brakes. oh and I have found better brake fluid performance when changing rotors when warped rather than turning them on machine. the brake fluid seems to be affective longer. TRY BLEEDING YOUR BRAKE FLUID YOU MAY TRY THAT AS A LAST RESORT BEFORE UPGRADING YOUR BRAKES WITH AFTERMARKET BRAKES ON WHAT EVER YOU DRIVE. I read up on a racing article somewhere and thats where I got this idea from.

Keep up the good POSTS!!!!!!

 

[BNH4221]

If I might chime in here...

Just an aside to the changing of the PS fluid thread:



Lots of people talking about the old turkey baster method of fluid removal.



I made a suction device out of an old cranberry juice bottle, a length of vacuum hose and my trusty shop vac.



Take the bottle (use a CJ bottle or something heavier than a soda pop bottle - the suction will collapse a Pepsi type bottle). Cut a hole in the side of the bottle and insert the vacuum hose. Tape up this junction so it has no air leak.

Duct tape the vacuum cleaner hose to the top of the bottle so it too doesn't leak air. Insert the other end of the vacuum line into the PS resevoir and turn on the shop vac.

This creates a suction in the bottle and will suck out the fluid, albeit slowly. The bottle acts as a resevoir and nothing gets into the shop vac.



I found the vacuum line gets into the resevoir further (farther?) than the baster and removes more fluid.



I replaced fluid with Valvoline syn power. Had good results.



Need pictures? I can take some if anyone wants. I know, my description ain't great.



Best,



Steve

 

[Grumpytrkr]

I made a suction device out of an old cranberry juice bottle, a length of vacuum hose and my trusty shop vac.

Steve

Oo. :-lafOo.





I've got sooooo many things I'm thinking right now... .....



This is a good idea. I'll have to work on it.

 

[Grumpytrkr]

back when i was going through power steering pump mayhem, one of the shops I contacted was AGR performace. this is their area of work. they told me that the 3rd generation dodges are running the same power steering pump as on for fords. he never told what model/year fords though.

I must be lucky. I've had zero problems with my 04. 5. I'm kinda anal about maintenance. Every 5,000 miles I change the oil, filter, fuel filter, and now will change what I can of the power stearing unit. Transmission get a new filter every 12,000 miles. Transfer case, diffs, all are done at regular times. Flush brakes lines year. Like I said, I must be lucky.

 

[BTowler]

Oo. :-lafOo.





I've got sooooo many things I'm thinking right now... .....



This is a good idea. I'll have to work on it.

Ewwww!!!!:-laf

 

[Cattletrkr]

I guess I have a project for my next off day.

If I pull a hose off and drain it, how do I fill the cooler? Will it gravity fill or once the system runs, will it run the air out and I just have to keeps topping it off???