|
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
 
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | Hi all, Merry Christmas!
How does one go about swapping out the power steering fluid for new fluid? My 57 Fury has the factory Thompson power steering pump with the factory steering box.
The fluid has been in there for 15 years and surely it would be a good idea to change it now and then.
I can syringe the oil out of the reservoir but how do you drain the steering box of the remaining oil?
Glenn |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9664
   
Location: So. Cal | If you insist on flushing everything, you can take the pitman arm off and put the nut back on loosely. Then run it until the seal pops out with a drain pan underneath. It'll drain out of the box this way, but you will probably want to replace the seal afterward. Otherwise if you don't want to have to do this, just empty out the fluid in the pump, refill it, and run the engine. Then repeat until you get a consistency you are happy with. It's better to flush it this way in intervals so you don't end up with garbage fluid in the whole system. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309
Location: Western Colorado | Another way: With the car/fluid warm/hot, jack up the front end so the tires are off the ground. Secure with jack stands.
Remove the return line at the pump. Attach a hose to the return line from the steering gear. I generally use a clear hose so I can see the color of the fluid. Put this hose into a drain pan. I also weigh the end of the hose down so it does not flop around. I also lay a rag over the drain pan to keep the fluid from splashing out. Cap the return port at the pump.
With a helper, have him/her start the car and let it idle. While the helper is turning the steering wheel slowly, lock to lock, add fluid to the pump. DO NOT let the pump run dry! Continue until the fluid coming out of the return hose is as clear as the fluid you are adding to the pump.
Another note of caution! If you let the Thompson pump run out of fluid, the pump can be destroyed in a few seconds!
Hope this helps.
Bob |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | Thanks for the suggestion. What sort of pressure will the fluid come out of that return line at? And will it only come out of the return line when the steering wheel is turned? This sounds like a relatively easy way to do this. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9664
Location: So. Cal | I really don't recommend that approach. That's why I didn't mention it. The chances of you doing damage to your parts is MUCH higher using this method than just keeping the old fluid that's in it. The cure is potentially worse than the problem! |
|
| |
|
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | I usually suck out all fluid in the pump. Fill up with new fluid, start the engine, make a couple steering cykles. Then suck out all fluid from the pump and repeat procedure….. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | I might just do that then. Fluid is cheap enough |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | I might just do that then. Fluid is cheap enough |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | At the shop, we'd disconnect the return hose from the pump, and connect a longer hose to the disconnected hose, and place the other end into a bucket. Start the car, and slowly pour fresh fluid into the pump, and it will flush out all the old fluid and residue.
---John |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 42
Location: Luleå, Sweden | big m - 2023-01-04 6:10 PM
At the shop, we'd disconnect the return hose from the pump, and connect a longer hose to the disconnected hose, and place the other end into a bucket. Start the car, and slowly pour fresh fluid into the pump, and it will flush out all the old fluid and residue.
---John
I did almost the same, but...
I raised up the front wheels to reduce the tyre friction. Removed the drivebelt to the pump from the engine pulley. and laid it over the chuck of a cordless drill. When running the drill, the pump operate and with a friend turning the steering wheel from end to end until the oil exiting in the bucket was red and clean. Then I connected the return line and drivebelt.
It was a calm process totally controlled by me that checked the flow and filled fresh fluid. When having the engine running and doing this, I can feel a bit stress not to spill, get out of oil in the pump or running back and forth to the steering wheel and ignition key.
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9664
Location: So. Cal | Using a drill or turning the pump by hand sounds like a reasonable method that avoids potential damage, by slowing down the process. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | That is a great idea, using a cordless drill as the drive motor. As you say-easier to regulate than having engine rpm’s driving the pump. That reservoir doesn’t hold much fluid and I bet it dumps the lot pretty quickly, risking a dry pump before you can shut it off. |
|
| |
Power steering fluid swap
