mastercater7

iTrader: (2)

My drivers side rack and pinion is goin. I flushed my power steering 2 weeks ago and its already brown. Now its starting to make some nasty noises. How hard would this be to fix myself?

mastercater7

iTrader: (2)

bump... anyone?

2da mizzax

iTrader: (4)

to change the rack would be a ton of work. when you say you "flushed" it how did you do that? just emptied out the resevoir and filled it back up? if so , then you didnt do a true flush. i would suggest some Seafoam Transtune and then a true flush using the return line.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

If it's making noises, are you sure you bled it fully? That may be the source of the noise.

Also, I would not expect it to clear out if you just emptied/replaced it once. The original brown-colored fluid will mix in.

That all said, yes these power steering racks go bad. It seems to be kinda common. I installed a used low mileage rack on mine and it's helped a great deal. But it's no small job.

Dave

deoncollins69

No small job is quite and understatement. It's a ***** pulling one out when half the car is parted out let alone when you have to be carefull to not bust anything around it. I've pulled a couple out of my parts cars and it stinks. Unless i sell them I leave them in when I haul them off.

mastercater7

iTrader: (2)

well i did 3 flushes with one of those vacuum things. I even vacuumed out the tubes from and to the power steering fluid. I did a true flush. Is this something that deserves immediate attention?

deoncollins69

The only way to do a TRUE flush it to rmove a line and let iflow like mad out the line while you fill the system. The best way is to find the line up front with a vac onit and then extend it so it draws the fluid up. This way you'll see the dirtly comming out and the fresh going in. With all that said. You are probably beating a dead horse. I'd it will be back to the way it was very soon.

Maximus_95

iTrader: (8)

Rack and pinion replacement job is a bitc4! Had mine replaced about 2 months ago and it looks very complicated. Took it to a shop, and watched them, im glad i paid them to do it, cause if i did it myself, i know i would have messed something up....

2da mizzax

iTrader: (4)

Suck the resevoir dry. fill it up with some Seafoam Transtune. Start the car and turnt he wheel lock to lock a good 20 times. Run it for about a week. That loosened up my steering. Then drain the resevoir again. remove the return hose from the bottom of the resevoir (the one that runs towards the cooler at the front of the car). place that in a bottle/jug container of some sorts. place your finger over the hole that the return line was. pour some ATF into the resevoir and have your helper start the car and begin to turn the wheel lock to lock. keep pouring ATF into the resevoir to prevent it from going dry. It takes about a quart to flush and another quart to fill. Some people claim Mobil1 Synthetic ATF works better but i cant speak on that. After flushing with the first quart, replpace the return line and fill. That is a proper DIY flush.

mastercater7

iTrader: (2)

I did get that line. I am just hoping i wont have to replace the rack. Anyone know how much it is to pay a shop to fix it?

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

You people kill me. Seafoam isn't a cure all. It's called advertising 101.

2da mizzax

iTrader: (4)

Who said it was? Seafoam does absolutely nothing as an intake cleaner. But 2 of us on here have tried Transtune on our PS systems and actually saw real world results. Not just "it feels smoother and definately more power". I would never use it in my transmission but perhaps you should have some experience with it before you give an opinion on it.