Power steering troubleshooting and need some tips

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

I have power steering issues, the usual high pitched whirling sound when i turn the wheel past 80%. funny thing is it seems to do it more when i turn left then it does when i turn right. I just need a run down on the steps i should take too get this fixed. How do you bleed PS fluid? A guy at a local shop told me too get a baster and suck out the old fluid and fill it back up and then turn the truck on and crank the wheel and then crack the "seal" on one side and to repeat the process on the other side and then to repeat as needed until i see clean fluid. What seal or rather nut do you think he is talking about? and if you do please post a pic of said nut or seal to help me locate it. id like to try as much on my own if possible but if you guys think PS issues are better left too a shop let me know. As always thanks a ton for all the help!

Here is my set up just in case
86K5 6" skyjacker lift 35"toyo MT open country, rest is stock

 

[dremu]

I have power steering issues, the usual high pitched whirling sound when i turn the wheel past 80%. funny thing is it seems to do it more when i turn left then it does when i turn right. I just need a run down on the steps i should take too get this fixed. How do you bleed PS fluid? A guy at a local shop told me too get a baster and suck out the old fluid and fill it back up and then turn the truck on and crank the wheel and then crack the "seal" on one side and to repeat the process on the other side and then to repeat as needed until i see clean fluid. What seal or rather nut do you think he is talking about? and if you do please post a pic of said nut or seal to help me locate it. id like to try as much on my own if possible but if you guys think PS issues are better left too a shop let me know. As always thanks a ton for all the help!

Here is my set up just in case
86K5 6" skyjacker lift 35"toyo MT open country, rest is stock

on you for asking questions in two threads

The bleeding process and where to crack is covered in the other thread you hijacked

With your lift, what components did you change to correct the steering? (i.e. draglink, steering arm, etc?) I suspect you'll find that the front axle turns father to one side than the other, and this is has worn the PS pump out. That and/or it may be low on fluid, and running it that way for a long time will also kill it.

At the very least, go check your fluid level, and if it's low, top the thing off right away.

If the level is good, pull some out on a rag or with a turkey baster. It should look like brake fluid, i.e. yellowish clear, and shouldn't smell burnt or be real dark. (Like if it's any darker than medium-wimpy iced tea, you're in trouble

Now, if you didn't change the steering with the lift, you're gonna need to make sure your steering is symmetrical, by the addition of a raised steering arm, and MAYBE a dropped draglink (though they're a PITA to align). Ideally of course we'd all have crossover steering, but that's expensive and complicated.

Then have the truck aligned, or at least adjust the draglink yourself so that you have the same travel left and right.

Only at that point would I say you can/should replace the pump, if it's still whining ... 'cuz otherwise you're gonna be killing pumps again and again.

Make sense?

-- A

 

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

ya totally man thanks for the help sorry about the hijacks and all im just blastin questions every which way not knowing of the impact it has on others. should the level be checked hot/ cold, running? and since i got the lift done at a local shop and it was cheap they probably didnt adjust the steering to match the lift, although it would have been nice if they would have told me to do so in the first place.

 

[dremu]

ya totally man thanks for the help sorry about the hijacks and all im just blastin questions every which way not knowing of the impact it has on others. should the level be checked hot/ cold, running? and since i got the lift done at a local shop and it was cheap they probably didnt adjust the steering to match the lift, although it would have been nice if they would have told me to do so in the first place.

CK5 is the land of the "I can do it myself" mindset, so read up on steering correction. You *could* pay someone to do it, but with a basic set of hand tools (sockets, jack, stands) and a big jug of panther piss, you can install the parts yourself. [The few specialty tools involved can be rented or borrowed or can, with a little searching, be had fairly cheap.]

And you learn a lot about your truck in the process, which, if/when it breaks in the field, comes in really handy. [I'm generally equipped to deal with anything up to an engine or tranny rebuild when driving ... my luck, of course, that I seized an engine on a road trip! ]

ON TOPIC ... PS fluid level is checked with the engine off. With the cap off and the pump running you'd have a soupy mess under the hood! There are hot and cold marks on the dipstick, pretty straightforward.

After the CK5 membership the best money you can spend on the truck is the $15 or $20 a Chilton's or Hayne's will set you back at the local parts house. You'd have all kinds of good info, like how to check *all* the fluids, and other basic maintenance stuff.

Now, I'm not suggesting you NOT ask questions here (lordie knows I've posted more questions than I have answers here in eight years and 6000+ posts!) ... but with the book, you get a crash course in the basics, and can then go on to asking the detailed questions like "how does the steering arm come off?" (soak it in panther piss for two days, then whack it with a sledge) and so forth.

-- A

 

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

sounds great doc! (i hope i you dont mind that i reference you as some sort of licensed k5 physician ive heard it before and its stuck) i got a chilton and its been beat too hell iver the years but i do need too just read up on it and really learn all this all over again. i thought i was done by getting the work done by "professionals" but looks like im just starting all over again and redoin what they have done for me in the past! thanks again for all your help thus far.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I go by the old saying, if you want something done right, do it yourself.

 

[dremu]

I go by the old saying, if you want something done right, do it yourself.

Ya know, I have a couple of T-shirts with that printed on them.

Of course, they advertise a place called "Good Vibrations" ...

-- A

 

[Mike D]

Wow, a lot of good advice above. Two things that may have been overlooked. 1). Raise both front wheels off the ground so the power steering pump is under minimal load. With engine off suck out ( with a turkey baster or X girl friend ) the PS fluid. Refil with fresh fluid, cap reservoir start engine and slowly turn steering wheel from lock to lock. Return to center, shut off engine, repeat until you have used a quart of PS fluid. 2). Buy a quart of power steering fluid from the OEM dealer. Many aftermarket PS fluids are crap and don't come close to the factory fluid specification.
This is the proper way to refil ( exchange, bleed,and de-airate ) the power steering system.
Also, did you put on larger tires? If you went from 30" to 38 - 42" you may be overloading the pump. There are several companies that sell higher pressure PS pumps designed to handle a greater steering load. To check this swap to a smaller size tire and observe(listen) for excessive noise. If the pump sounds and acts normal you need a higher pressure ( and volume ) pump.

 

[Blazin'4x4]

on you for asking questions in two threads

 

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

whats the best way too put it up in the air? or rather where do i block it just up close to the axle on the frame?

 

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

sorry about that it was an old post and wasn't sure if anyone was gonna hit it up?

 

[dremu]

whats the best way too put it up in the air? or rather where do i block it just up close to the axle on the frame?

Well, unless you have some REALLY tall jack stands, you'll find out pretty quick that you can't easily hold it under the frame. See, if you push the frame up ... the springs will just stretch out, and the tires stay on the ground. The axle+tires/wheels is heavy =))

The stands go under the *axle*; I usually stick 'em as far out as they'll go, about under the shocks.

If you've got a heavy duty jack you may be able to just lift it once at the pumpkin, but this is tough with the front diff being off-center. It's easier in the back.

Anyway, jack the axle up, remember to leave enough room for the stand ... I usually push it about in right place, then scoot the jack wherever that won't interfere with the stand. Once the tire is a coupla inches off the ground, raise the stand up to whatever notch, then drop the axle back into place, making sure that the tire is still off the ground. Doesn't have to be much, just enough that they don't contact the ground.

-- A