Power steering groan

[Doc]

I tried to go wheeling today in the 60. Tried is the operative word here. I figured the all season radials I had on there would be good for SOME wheeling. Apparently I was wrong.

Anyway, before the tires become mud slicks- I had to descend a moderately steep and rutted dirt track to get to the 'trail head'. At the bottom of said hill, the truck developed a steering noise, best described as a mechanical 'groan'.

The groan was worse when turning left, but occoured both on right and left hand turns.

After I got home I checked the PS fluid, about half way up the indicator for the 'cold' range, so I guess I'm low on fluid?

The area around the resivoir was damp. Did PS fluid flow out of the cap? Doesn't seem possiable on the kind of grade I was taking. Is this a common leak you guys know about?

Oh, and the PS resivouir cap sais "TOYODA" on the cap- wassup widdat?

Is it OK to just add PS fluid? Or do I have to flush and fill?

 

[lowtideride]

dextron II or III not PS fluid. and ya got me... my rig squeaks? I dont know how else to describe it. it sounds like its squeakin from the PS box? I would just like to make it stop squeakin, because its not that hard to steer.(well somtimes off road) but its not that bad.


what size meats are you spinning?

 

[Doc]

31x10.5's, apparently upgraded by the PO. However, the brands and tread do not match from front to rear. Nor does the spare.

Will be upgrading to either 32 or 33's before winter hits. Firestone Destination MT's baby.

 

[lowtideride]

me wants 37 MTR's 35s too tiny

 

[Doc]

You SOA lucky SOB...

 

[euclid]

Sounds like your fluid got hot. Flush it and refill with fresh ATF. Noise will probably go away.

 

[lovetoski]

Doc,

I'd just refill and go. Maybe the cap was on loose, and that's how the fluid level ended up low. A "groan" is common for PS pumps that are low on fluid. You can get air into the system I believe, but I'm also pretty sure that turning the wheel from side to side a few times will work out all the bubbles.


I haven't read that a leaking PS cap is common though a leaking PS pump (due to high miles) is common.

Regarding the "Toyoda" on the cap...the story I heard is that the original name was Toyoda, but the "d" was changed to a "t" early on in the production of auto's. The name for the original mfg lines was kept to the family name and spelling. That's a lame explanation - hope somebody else can provide the full story.

Best Regards,

 

[lowtideride]

yeah, I was meaning to ask this but my pump gets to hot touch for more than a second after driving. I cant remember if it was always like this. But how hot is it on your guys rigs???

 

[dogboy2]

But how hot is it on your guys rigs???

hot....you definately have to wait for the temp in the engine compartment to drop before you can touch the cap. just a function of these rigs....

-db-

 

[lovetoski]

My PS pump is really hot after use, esp off-road. I never remembered to measure the temp with my IR thermometer though. Heat is the enemy in general, so after I got my pump rebuilt, I added a simple cooler. It is now cooler than before. I'll try to measure the temp if I can remember.

 

[Doc]

My 60 actually came with a PS cooler, runs down below the rad. One of the PO's disconnected it, I don't know if it leaked or why he did that, but you can see the hard lines, and the loop of hose used to shunt off the cooler circuit.

Anyway, added the Dexron (sp?) ATF and no more groan. Thanks again guys!