I thought I would throw out a hot topic and start a discussion about flushing the fluid for the power steering pump. I find threads here and there about how and why to do it. In my opinion, it's a moving part and should be serviced. My pump is whining and I have read in this forum that changing the fluid may help reduce the noise-not guaranteed. I will give it a shot.

I crawled under my van and could only find 2 lines-the fat line coming from the reservoir into the pump and a high pressure line going into the steering box. I traced a line going out of the steering box that leads to a small radiator in the front of the van and returning to the reservoir. It's a return line. It looks easy to disconnect and insert into a jar to drain after I remove most of the fluid from the reservoir. The reservoir is removable. I can lift it up and temporarily plug the bottom as I flush the system by moving the steering lock to lock with the vehicle on jacks. I will continue to add fluid until it comes out clear.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I should do this? I sure want to learn from another experience.

 

I've often wondered how to do this operation myself, have never seen anything definitive about it though.

I've heard and seen larger metal or cheap plastic syringes with up to one pint capacities used to draw out the old fluid. If this is the case it would be far less messy than disconnecting a line fron the reservoir for a gravity drain.

Maybe someone has some experience with this?

 

If your pump is whining, It's telling you it's time for a new pump.

Flushing it out might buy you some time, but for how long?
Couple of months until it's 20* outside, and your out there changing the pump out?

Sounds like you also have the power steering cooler attached to this.

If you do R&R the pump, you'll get that flush you wanted to do anyways.

 

First-- loosen the reservoir cap.

Second--Cut the hose connection at the power steering oil cooler (the hose running from the gear to the cooler). Have a drain pan at the ready. This is the lowest point in the system. Gravity (and vacuum) will drain the system (including the gear).

The reason I said to cut the hose, as opposed to, removing the hose is because you don't want to reuse any of the hoses in the system. It's time to replace all of the rubber hoses--and I mean all of them. Your van is late 1990s and it's just time. Hell, it's past time.

Don't kid yourself ... those hoses are old, and simply "flexing" them can cause rubber particles or contaminants to flake off etc. One particle getting into the gear may render the gear inoperable. **Hoses wear out from the inside.***

You can flush the system with the motor running. I don't like this method as power steering pumps have a lot of pressure and a lot of volume. **BIG FAT MESS.*** Besides, if there's been a pump failure, I don't want to reuse the gear anyway due to possible metal particle contamination. However, power steering line filter kits are available.

I prefer to take the system completely down, replace all the rubber lines, and re-seal the pump--or, replace the pump if need be. Any issues with the gear, it's outta there. Reman--or, gently used. The oil cooler connections, as well as, all of the new hoses get hit with compressed air prior to re-assembly.

Do it all at one time. It's cheaper that way. Preventative maintenance, if you will.

Like Wildman25 said, "When the system is open your getting the flush you wanted to do anyways."

 

@Little Ebby

Thanks for the suggestion to replace all the hoses. At this point, I prefer to change the fluid and not have a big fat mess until I am ready to replace the pump. I bought a fluid suction pump for $10 and removed the fluid in increments until I replaced 3 quarts. It's much quieter.

When the time comes to replace the steering gears (if ever) then I will replace the pump and all the hoses.

 

I agree with you that I am only buying time. Power steering pumps are cheap for my van and not too hard to install. My steering gear box has a lot of play which indicates that it needs replacement. I bought the van used and am learning that it must have had some hard use delivering food to the homeless. I think normal driving would not wear out the ball joints, tie rods, and steering box at 100K. I bought it with 85k and knowing that the steering box was sloppy. It's a $1000 van that has needed a few thousands dollars of routine maintenance such as tires, shocks, ball joints, battery, brakes, drums, rotors, brake calipers, tie rods, etc.