How to replace power steering fluid (with pictures)

forestdan7 · 02-22-08, 03:04 PM

How's the fluid in your power steering reservoir look? Probably like mud, if you've never changed it out. And somebody along the line most likely put some power steering fluid in it, which can degrade your pump seals. It uses ATF (automatic transmission fluid).

Either way, if it's not clean and bright red, it's time to change it out. This might take an hour if you really take your time. You'll need another person, unless you have really long arms.

Put your truck up on jackstands so the front wheels are off the ground.

Get a turkey baster or somebody else's antifreeze tester and suck all the old fluid out of the reservoir.

Find the return line to your reservoir. It will NOT be a hard line, threaded connection. Just a nipple with a soft line and a clamp (first picture).

Undo the clamp, slip the line off, and put it into a jug that will fit down by your manifold and steering shaft (second picture; kind of blurry, sorry).

Get a piece of tube that you can seal the other end of (third picture) and put it on the nipple of the reservoir.

Now have your buddy start the engine and constantly turn the wheels lock to lock, while you pour clean ATF into the reservoir to keep it full. All that nasty brown fluid will coming shooting out into the jug. As you pour in the clean ATF, you'll notice what's coming into the jug getting clean and red.

When it looks nice and clean, shut off the engine. Remove the jug, replace the return hose on the reservoir and tighten the clamp. Fill the reservoir with more ATF to bring it up to the proper level, then start the truck again and turn lock to lock till the ATF in the reservoir is not foamy.

Your pump will groan a little bit while it's working the air out, but when the fluid in the reservoir looks clear, it should quiet down.

When it looks good and clear, make sure it's filled to the proper level again, keep turning lock to lock for good measure, then shut off the engine. Check the level after a minute or so, and make sure the level does not rise more than 5mm after you shut the engine off. If it does, keep cycling till all the air gets out.

Sometimes the system won't completely bleed till you've driven it with the wheels on the ground for a little bit.

Your pump will thank you.

2ndGenToyotaFan · 02-22-08, 08:41 PM

Thanks Dan! FAQ'd!

How messy was this job?

nat88toy · 02-22-08, 09:33 PM

nice write up thanks!
i may have to do that soon, when it is real dam cold out my pump makes some bad wining noises for a few seconds, i think that flush might be the best thing for it

forestdan7 · 02-22-08, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ndGenToyotaFan

Thanks Dan! FAQ'd!

How messy was this job?

My pleasure. No mess, as long as the hose doesn't come out of the bottle, and you empty the reservoir first.

Nice FAQ page, by the way. Tons of great info. I just checked it out at length. I spend most of my time over in the 60 forum, but with my 4Runner coming back to life, I'll be over here more and more.

forestdan7 · 02-22-08, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nat88toy

nice write up thanks!
i may have to do that soon, when it is real dam cold out my pump makes some bad wining noises for a few seconds, i think that flush might be the best thing for it

Thanks. That whining when cold was the reason I originally did this on my 60. Really quieted it down. I'm expecting the same benefit for my 4Runner. And I couldn't stand to check that fluid level anymore and ignore how dirty brown it was.

missouriman · 02-25-08, 02:24 PM

I just did this the hard way, and it was a mess!!!

went to go wheeling on sat, just the wife and I.
went to back out of the drive and the steering felt (heavy).
stopped got out to look, tranny fluid every where.
could not see where it came from, started it up and had a 1/8th inch stream squirting out of the high pressure line of the power steering pump.
NONE to be had in rapid city on a sunday. so had to order it.
so since the system is going dry with the hose removed I cut the end off the hydro cylinder and rotated it so the fittings would be angled down and not hit the pan anymore. Just finished up when I felt the first sprinkle.
so cylinder is hanging under the truck, hose is on its way. I ordered two of them as our trucks are the same age and what ever go's wrong with one the other is not far behind.
the hydro is great when it works.. but I could barley turn the wheel with out it.

so check your hoses, this one only had a few little checks in the outer part.

ps the one that you want for cross over steering on an 85 is the one from a 92. less bends in it.

02-22-08, 03:04 PM	#1
forestdan7 IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky TLCA# 17532 Posts: 306	How to replace power steering fluid (with pictures) How's the fluid in your power steering reservoir look? Probably like mud, if you've never changed it out. And somebody along the line most likely put some power steering fluid in it, which can degrade your pump seals. It uses ATF (automatic transmission fluid). Either way, if it's not clean and bright red, it's time to change it out. This might take an hour if you really take your time. You'll need another person, unless you have really long arms. Put your truck up on jackstands so the front wheels are off the ground. Get a turkey baster or somebody else's antifreeze tester and suck all the old fluid out of the reservoir. Find the return line to your reservoir. It will NOT be a hard line, threaded connection. Just a nipple with a soft line and a clamp (first picture). Undo the clamp, slip the line off, and put it into a jug that will fit down by your manifold and steering shaft (second picture; kind of blurry, sorry). Get a piece of tube that you can seal the other end of (third picture) and put it on the nipple of the reservoir. Now have your buddy start the engine and constantly turn the wheels lock to lock, while you pour clean ATF into the reservoir to keep it full. All that nasty brown fluid will coming shooting out into the jug. As you pour in the clean ATF, you'll notice what's coming into the jug getting clean and red. When it looks nice and clean, shut off the engine. Remove the jug, replace the return hose on the reservoir and tighten the clamp. Fill the reservoir with more ATF to bring it up to the proper level, then start the truck again and turn lock to lock till the ATF in the reservoir is not foamy. Your pump will groan a little bit while it's working the air out, but when the fluid in the reservoir looks clear, it should quiet down. When it looks good and clear, make sure it's filled to the proper level again, keep turning lock to lock for good measure, then shut off the engine. Check the level after a minute or so, and make sure the level does not rise more than 5mm after you shut the engine off. If it does, keep cycling till all the air gets out. Sometimes the system won't completely bleed till you've driven it with the wheels on the ground for a little bit. Your pump will thank you. Attached Images __________________ 1985 FJ60 1987 4Runner 2007 Honda XR650L

02-22-08, 08:41 PM	#2
2ndGenToyotaFan No longer pre-approved... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Yreka, CA TLCA# 13872 Sign Up!!! You know you want to! Posts: 3,528	Thanks Dan! FAQ'd! How messy was this job? __________________ Jerod The 79-95 Truck/4Runner FAQ 89 4Runner "The James Caird" 01 4Runner, for my Jefferson State Cruisers

02-22-08, 09:33 PM	#3
nat88toy IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: boston TLCA# 16379 Posts: 495	nice write up thanks! i may have to do that soon, when it is real dam cold out my pump makes some bad wining noises for a few seconds, i think that flush might be the best thing for it __________________ 88 4runner.. SAS, 4" trail gear lift, 34" super swamper ltb, arb, warn 9000, snorkel, extreme air, aussie locked and a bunch of other junk 98 sr5 T100 32" procomp mtr 1994 fzj-80 factory locked Slee 4" lift, Landtank caster plates, Arb bumper, warn 12,000, arb snorkel, 35" TrXus mt

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02-25-08, 02:24 PM	#6
missouriman IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 185	I just did this the hard way, and it was a mess!!! went to go wheeling on sat, just the wife and I. went to back out of the drive and the steering felt (heavy). stopped got out to look, tranny fluid every where. could not see where it came from, started it up and had a 1/8th inch stream squirting out of the high pressure line of the power steering pump. NONE to be had in rapid city on a sunday. so had to order it. so since the system is going dry with the hose removed I cut the end off the hydro cylinder and rotated it so the fittings would be angled down and not hit the pan anymore. Just finished up when I felt the first sprinkle. so cylinder is hanging under the truck, hose is on its way. I ordered two of them as our trucks are the same age and what ever go's wrong with one the other is not far behind. the hydro is great when it works.. but I could barley turn the wheel with out it. so check your hoses, this one only had a few little checks in the outer part. ps the one that you want for cross over steering on an 85 is the one from a 92. less bends in it.