On my 92 22re, which line is the return line that I would disconnect to flush the old fluid out?
Thanks.
Thanks.
power steering flush/change
- Thread starter SizzleChest
- Start date
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There are two low pressure return lines.
From the reservoir ...
- Fat hose from the bottom is the low pressure supply to the pump.
- From the pump is the high pressure line to the gear box.
- From the top of the gear box is a low pressure line to the firewall that goes to the cooler.
- The other low pressure line from the firewall/cooler goes to the top port on the reservoir.
In order to do a full drain you would really need to remove them all. But, taking the hose off the top of the pump would probably drain the most. I would also remove the fat hose off the bottom of the reservoir. Good time to replace it while there since I'll bet it's pretty rotten.
From the reservoir ...
- Fat hose from the bottom is the low pressure supply to the pump.
- From the pump is the high pressure line to the gear box.
- From the top of the gear box is a low pressure line to the firewall that goes to the cooler.
- The other low pressure line from the firewall/cooler goes to the top port on the reservoir.
In order to do a full drain you would really need to remove them all. But, taking the hose off the top of the pump would probably drain the most. I would also remove the fat hose off the bottom of the reservoir. Good time to replace it while there since I'll bet it's pretty rotten.
- Thread starter
- #3
I wouldn't want to remove them all though if I'm going to be turning the steering wheel to pump out the old fluid, correct? The FSM just says to remove the return line and only shows one line in the diagram.
My preference is to use a turkey baster to remove as much of the fluid as possible from the reservoir first. Then I put the front up on stands so you can steer the wheels back and forth, lock-2-lock. I have a chunk of bent copper tubing that fit in the soft return that goes to the TOP of the reservoir, I pull this hose off the reservoir and put the copper tube in the hose, and stuck it into a soda bottle as a catch reservoir.
Fill the reservoir back up with fresh ATF just to it almost overflows out the return, then start the engine and run it for 3-4 seconds. Old fluid will GUSH out the return into the soda bottle, so you might want to have someone hold it into the bottle. Fill the reservoir again, start and run for 3-4 seconds. Repeat until the fluid coming out is nice and crimson colored. Put the hose back on, fill the reservoir, then start and run the engine while you turn the wheel back and forth. It will take awhile to get all the foam and air out of the system.
The PS pump is a vane pump, it will howl if you run it dry or get too much air in it. Don't do this for long!
Fill the reservoir back up with fresh ATF just to it almost overflows out the return, then start the engine and run it for 3-4 seconds. Old fluid will GUSH out the return into the soda bottle, so you might want to have someone hold it into the bottle. Fill the reservoir again, start and run for 3-4 seconds. Repeat until the fluid coming out is nice and crimson colored. Put the hose back on, fill the reservoir, then start and run the engine while you turn the wheel back and forth. It will take awhile to get all the foam and air out of the system.
The PS pump is a vane pump, it will howl if you run it dry or get too much air in it. Don't do this for long!
- Thread starter
- #5
That's what I was intending to do, just not sure which of these 3 hoses to put in the soda bottle.
As Pappy explained, the fluid travels from the reservoir out that larger hose on the BOTTOM, this is the suction side of the pump. The line that attaches up higher on the reservoir, the one in the front just behind the air box is the return, that is the line that I disconnect and use to flush. Just make sure you suck out most of the fluid before disconnecting or you will have a big mess.
I recommend a milk jug size bottle too. I tried a 1 liter one...Not fun to clean up atf off of your boots and your trucks.
- Thread starter
- #8
Thank you.
- Thread starter
- #9
It ended up being the line on the cab side of the resevoir and a gallon jug was definitely necessary. I can't believe how much of the old stuff was in the system before I started seeing the new stuff.
