Purging air from the power steering system

[Huntervf]

Ok, my ps fluid was burnt bad on the 91 and my steering has been pretty stiff for awhile, so I found the procedure for flushing the ps system per FPS (remove the cooler, cycle the steering with the car running, run fresh fluid & repeat). I needed to take the cooler off anyway because it's literally caked full of gunk, so no biggie, I have the cooler off. But in my excitement I neglected to think about purging air from the system. I found something about hooking up a vaccum source and such but I'm kinda lost on that...can someone tell me the best way to purge air from the power steering after a fluid flush?

 

[Slo-Sho]

Repeatedly turn the wheel lock to lock.

 

[Huntervf]

For purging air? That's the procedure I found for topping off the system, but how does turning the wheel lock to lock purge air from the system? Don't get me wrong...if it's really that simple then woohoo! I just want to make sure I'm not frying my pump here.

 

[k_mesaros]

Let it run while filling the resevoir up. Turn it slowly lock to lock. Air will go to the top, and as long as you keep the resevoir from going empty the pump will not be damaged. After you do this a while, the PS fluid will be kinda foamy, so shut it off and go in and have lunch. When you come back out you should just top it off and call it good.

Kevin

 

[Huntervf]

Well all seems to be working well, except for the fact that I must be the worlds worst PS system flusher Removed the cooler (hoses came off, didn't even need to cut 'em), started the car and cycled the wheel until I heard the sucking sound then shut the car down & added some fresh fluid. Did this a few times and went through about a quart of type F, figured it would be good enough so I buttoned it all back up. Filled the res with fresh type F, started the car and cycled the wheel and within seconds everything was greyish-again. But at least now it's greyish-black with a red tint to it I just got back from a 20 mile run and even with cruddy fliud in there still the steering feels quite a bit better and the pump is a little quieter. At this point I'm just going to do the suck fluid from the res technique until everything is nice and red.

Incidently, part of the reason I did this job was to clean & repair the PS cooler. Man this thing was CAKED solid; so bad you couldn't even see most of the cooling fins and the ones I could see were bent & crushed over. A half bottle of simple green (undiluted), a wire brush, a screwdriver & tweezers to help mend the fins and some high pressure water and now the cooler actually looks functional. I'm not sure how long the cooler has been like that but I've no doubts that's why the fluid was all burnt. In fact I would be surprised if the cooler was actually working as an insulator.

So word to the wise guys, check your PS coolers, make sure they're gunk free and that the fins are at least moderatly straight

And thanks for the help you two

 

[k_mesaros]

I just replaced mine with a new one from Ford. $47 I think. The grey stuff is the inside of your rack. The O-rings inside wear on the aluminum rack housing, and actually wear grooves into the rack creating fine aluminum powder that gets into the fluid.

Kevin