Bleeding a steering box? (1 Viewer)

[tputterman]

So I replaced my power steering gear box. I unclipped the distributor then cranked the ignition while turning the wheel to get all the air out. It worked, but while test driving it still gets stiff while turning left after about 1 1/4 turns of the wheel then releases again at about the 2nd rotation. Do I just need to bleed it better or am I missing something?

 

[Ridge Runner]

Jack the front end of your truck up to get the wheels off the ground. Start the engine and turn the wheel lock to lock anywhere from 10 to 15 times. That should take care of the problem.

 

[Output Shaft]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/problem-bleeding-power-steering-system.191522/

If it is a newly rebuilt gearbox, chances are high that it is not the source of the problem.
If you have an aftermarket PS cooler, it must be lower than the PS reservoir.
The PS system likely still has air in it. It is difficult to perfectly bleed all the air when installing a new gearbox.
Check to see if the PS performance is good immediately after startup (before the pump can start frothing the ATF).
Sometimes it can take several days to purge all the air out the PS system.
Keep the ATF at the mid point of the HOT mark on the dipstick until all the air is bled out.

Once air/foam gets sucked back down into the pump, there really won't be any improvement with the steering until the engine is shut down and all the teensy weensie bubbles in the foam coalesce into larger bubbles... to eventually be pumped back into the reservoir. It can take several cycles to get rid of those bubbles.


If it never improves (like after a week)...then the problem lies elsewhere.

 

[tputterman]

Thank you sir. I will do that today when I get home.

 

[SteveH]

Some PS bleeding regiments (FZJ-80) require that the engine be OFF when the wheels are in the air, and you're see-sawing the wheel back and forth 5 times. So, try that. Worked perfectly on my '95 FZJ, when nothing else would. (Imagine that, following the FSM!)

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Some PS bleeding regiments (FZJ-80) require that the engine be OFF when the wheels are in the air, and you're see-sawing the wheel back and forth 5 times. So, try that. Worked perfectly on my '95 FZJ, when nothing else would. (Imagine that, following the FSM!)

The 60/62 is the same. Motor off, front wheels in the air, cycle the steering slowly lock to lock about 10-15 times. Make sure the reservoir is full and stays full.

I hope that's your problem.