change steering fluid

[lifted_Mazda01]

how is it done?

 

[4x4junkie]

Unless the rack has a drain plug of some sort, I think the only way is to disconnect the fluid return hose and let everything drain out. Cycling the steering back & forth will help get most of the fluid out of the box/rack.

Then refill (repeat draining it again if you want more of the old fluid flushed out)

Have a large piece of cardboard box or something under there while doing this if you don't want fluid getting on your driveway, it'll likely be a bit messy.

 

[exbass94]

I usually just use a turkey baster or a siphon to get as much fluid out of the reservior as possible, and top it off with fresh fluid. You won't change all of the fluid at once with this method, but if you do it once a week or so you will eventually replace pretty much all of it.

 

[thegoat4]

Remove a line from the rack, steer side-to-side with the engine off. Clean up the mess. Reattach the line. Fill the reservoir to the brim. Start the engine and add fluid as needed while cycling the steering until you have full power assist from stop to stop. Shut it off and let it sit for five minutes or so to let any bubbles work themselves out. Top off the fluid if needed and start it up again. Steer side-to-side once again and make sure you have power all the way across.

You can skip the wait and repeat part if you're lazy, but your steering may shudder for a while until the air works its way out.

 

[triumphrider-1]

I just did mine a couple of weeks ago. When I did it I removed the return hose at the pump (pointing it to a catch pan) then worked the wheel from side to side slowly filling the resivior every couple turns. It would help to have a person turning the wheel side to side while you keep the resivior full.

Something I did afterwards was to rotate the pump by hand before starting the motor (got most of the trapped air out). Then started the motor for a few seconds, shut it off, refilled the resivior; and repeated this a couple more times.


On a side note I changed my fluid over to Valvoline SynPower fluid (has the consistency ATF) and the pump is much quiter than it was previously.

 

[Yellowsplash]

On a side note I changed my fluid over to Valvoline SynPower fluid (has the consistency ATF) and the pump is much quiter than it was previously.

Thats cause it calls for ATF, not power steering fluid. Up to 95 calls for ATF Type F, 96 and later calls for Mercon...You'd be surprised how quiet the pump is when you use the specified fluid.