Power Steering Fluid

[fushuman]

Can't find any DIY for it.
Has anyone done it? is it doable?

Cause it's 10 F out here in NY and my steering feels very stiff in the mornings and my mech would charge me 70 bucks to replace it.

Just wanna know if i could do it myself

[YoungExec728]

just the fluid? bro, its cake.

Take out your airbox so you can access your power steering fluid. Then get a big syringe like 500cc (not a needle, just the syringe part) and suck out all the power steering fluid you can. Then refill it with the new power steering fluid. Then turn your car on and turn the wheel all the way to the left until it locks, then all the way to the right until it locks. Do this a few times while the car is running to get the new fluid circulating. Then, turn the car off and check the level and add as needed. Also, you can do this two or three times to ensure you get all the old PS fluid out. I really like Lucas Brank Power steering fluid, it's more expensive but worth it. Hope this helps

[fushuman]

thanx man,
ill try it tomorrow

[victorgallas]

Originally posted by fushuman@Jan 25 2005, 11:51 AM
thanx man,
ill try it tomorrow

[snapback]278831[/snapback]

just a side note here///


BMW DOES NOT USE POWER STEERING FLUID, INSTEAD THEY USE ATF./ AUTOMATIC TRASNMISSION FLUID/!!! PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.

[97alpineM3]

Ok.. if you want to do it the right way... because the above DIY is rather half assed... meaning:.. your leaving half the fluid in the lines and the rack...

If you want to remove most of the fluid.. I've found the best way is to undo one of the hydralic fittings on the bottom of the resevoir... there are two hoses coming out of the bottom... disconnect one of them.. mainly or its best if you trace the hose that connects to your rack (its rather stiff and hard to get off.. but just work with it and it will come loose)... then let the fluid drain out... get in your car.. put the key in but dont start the car.. just unlock the steering wheel.. and turn the wheels all the way to the stop in both directions...

This will get most of the fluid ouf of the system....

If you want to remove absolutely all of the fluid.. I've found the best way to do this.. is to take off the hose the leads from the resevoir to the rack... let the resevoir drain... and let that hose drain the rack... to ensure you are removing all of the fluid.. take the other hose which runs out the bottom of the resevoir to the pump off... this will drain most of the fluid from the pump... Now you have drained the rack.. resevoir and the pump.. the only section that hasnt been drained is from the pump to the rack.. as there are three main hoses that connect the system together.. from the resevoir to the pump.. from the pump to the rack.. and from the rack to the resevoir...

Just make sure you move the steering wheel in both directions... this will ensure the rack is drained...

Good Luck,

Les

[97alpineM3]

Quick note about the hydralic fittings... if you take it off.. you may not be able to replace it... as they are rather hard to get off... most of the time they get messed up in the process... get a regular hose fitting.. one that has a flat head screw driver screw which tightens it up... that works fine for a replacement...

Good Luck again,

Les

BTW... like what was said above.. do not use power steering fluid as a replacement.. the correct fluid is ATF fluid... of a Dextron III or better...

[fushuman]

Alright, great help guys, i'll give it a try tomorrow

[theruss1an1]

Im not sure if anyone said this, and if so, I missed when I was reading all your posts, sorry, but from what I know you have to use miniral based fluid. If not your seals will be eaten away. Im not sure if this is true or not but this is what I been told. Just putting this out there.

-Serge

[drz]

Yeah, I would be careful with synthetics (i.e., I would not use them).