“What I Learned Today” With Jeff Smith: Power Steering Bleed

[DynoDave]

“What I Learned Today” With Jeff Smith: Power Steering Bleed

I don't know if all of you know or remember Jeff Smith. I remember him from his days with Car Craft magazine/

I found this tip interesting. I've not heard of it before, but it makes sense, and I'll probably put it to work in the future.

Street Muscle Magazine Link

[71se3834v]

Is his recommendation for fluid only apply to classics? Cause my Ram & Dakota owners manual states to use ATF-4.

Changed out my steering gear and hoses on the Ram last spring and had no problem just turning the steering wheel back and forth before starting engine. Front end was already in the air.

[DynoDave]

I would guess so, on the fluid. I was a little surprised by that comment too, to be honest. I'd just say follow the manufacturers recommendation.

I think I would use the steering wheel too. It was just the idea of running lock to lock by hand without the engine running that I had not heard of. Makes sense, I just had not seen it done.

It was weird some years ago, we had a Chevy Venture van when the kids were young. The power steering started making noise from the pump. Level was a little low, so I topped it off with the proper fluid. Drive it, cycled it, and the noise just never went away. I assumed the pump was on it's way out. I sent it to the local independent shop that I've used for 30-some years. They called back and said they had a Berryman's product for noisy P/S that they wanted to try. There was some modest cost associated, and I was a little hesitant to spend the money, as I thought I'd end up buying that AND a new pump when the treatment didn't work. Confident in the product based on their experience with it, the service advisor said if I'd agree to let them try it, that if the treatment didn't work they wouldn't charge me for it, just the pump. With nothing to lose, I gave them the greenlight. And it worked. The pump was quieter than it had ever been.

[Nacho-RT74]

I have not read or even open the link... but reading your replies, I can say have used ( and everybody in Vzla uses it ) ATF Dexron II for the Steering system since ever... never a problem with it

[DynoDave]

The story is, with new components (no fluid in the system) about cycling the steering system from lock-to-lock with the engine off first, before you start the engine/run the pump. This leads to less aeration of the fluid...sort of pre-bleeding the air from the system.