I've read that you can bleed the power steering by turning it lock to lock while maintaining fluid level. In my chilton and 93 fsm it says that if I have abs i have to take it in or use several SST. Any suggestions as to what I should do?

Thanks ahead of time.

 

I think you'd be okay with the standard procedure listed. I bled mine with the ABS block several times with good results. Maybe if you completely drained your system or replaced the ABS block you might have more of an issue.

Make sure your front end is in the air and no load on the steering when you bleed.

 

I am going to flush the system first, does that count as draining it? Also, somewhere on here I read that I should leave the tires on the ground...so which one is it?

 

Well... I have always wanted them to have no load, as there may be times the pump is dry when air is passing through. Once it's bled, you may do a final check under load to get all the air out.

I don't see an advantage to trying to bleed the system under load. I just see extra strain on the pump for no real reason.

 

Interesting. I think my Haynes said to unload the front for the turning, but I didn't bother to look it up since I can't post it up here anyway. So I went to the online '93 manual (looking for something I could link to) and it makes no mention of getting the weight off the wheels.

 

my power steering doesnt work at all on my 85 sr5 4runner would bleeding it help.it doesnt make any wierd noises it just dont work.how can u tell if its the pump

 

When mine went the steering wheel felt "choppy" if that makes any sense, when I turned it. Also, the pump would sort of grind/moan/chatter when under load.

 

no sound at all

 

In that manual it tells you to put it on stands to flush it...maybe they just assume you are going to bleed then flush every time.

 

I've always done it with the wheels up because that's the first way I learned to do it. It DOES bleed the system and DOESN'T hurt anything. So I figure if you have the equipment to lift it, why not?

So if your question is wether it is effective with/without weight on the wheels, I don't think it matters. Doing it with the wheels down just adds some strain to the pump while it's still dry.

 

I dont think it matters...its just hard as hell to turn giant tires on dry concrete lock to lock like 50 times

 

so all u do to bleed it is turn back and forth lock to lock and maintain fluid levels

 

theres no drains to open

 

Yup... pretty easy huh?

To bad all this mechanical stuff wasn't so simple.

 

If you have a newer style IFS box it has a bleeder screw on the top of the box.....makes it even easier for ya...

I usually fill mine up all the way and run it with the cap off for a while.......any excess fluid will be spit up by the system...yes, its a messy job so be prepared!

 

idealy you dont want the pump to be dry at all ever.. so just keep throwin fluid at it while you flush it and it wont run dry.

as for in the air or not it doesnt matter.

Also what i usually do is have the guy in the vehicle turn the car on and then i keep throwin fluid at it and when im satisfied i tell him to turn it off. sumtimes he has to turn the wheel side to side but usually the operation of the pump spinning causes the fluid to flow fast on its on.