power steering fluid backing up into reservoir and leaking out vent hole after compressing brake cylinders? huh?!

[william wixon]

i put on new rotors and pads. got the truck up on jack stands, tires off. turning left to right for easier access for brake pad replacement. noticed a puddle on the cardboard i put under the truck. looked like it's coming out the vent hole of the power steering fluid reservoir. i was completely baffled (compressed the brake cylinders, pushed fluid back into the brake fluid reservoir, didn't overflow the brake fluid, "these systems are completely unrelated, how could compressing the brake cylinders cause the power steering fluid to back up to overflowing?!?!" "it can't!") only thing i could think of was turning the steering wheel repeatedly left and right without the power steering pump running somehow causes the fluid to back up into the reservoir.

i intend to flush the brake fluid.
i'd like to if i can replace the power steering fluid too.

i'd like to know why it's backing up into the reservoir and leaking out the vent hole.

 

[adsm08]

only thing i could think of was turning the steering wheel repeatedly left and right without the power steering pump running somehow causes the fluid to back up into the reservoir.

THIS.

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^^

 

[4x4junkie]

Yep. It happens.

Put a little fluid back in there (Dex/Merc ATF for a '05), spray things down with degreaser if needed, and move on.

FWIW, if there's no torque on the system while you turn it (both wheels fully jacked up off the ground), this generally does not happen (at least on mine with the recirculating-ball steering gears it doesn't).


Welcome to TRS.

 

[william wixon]

Thanks everyone for your help! I really appreciate it! after flushing the brake fluid/brake lines last night i am now in the process of flushing the power steering fluid. very happy to finally do this. this has been bugging me for a long time, i've wanted to flush the brake fluid and power steering fluid for a long time! (didn't know how, didn't occur to me to Google Youtube.)