JDM_addict

I got a problem with my power steering, last week i changed my LH rack end and both steering boots n tie rods. Did an alignment this morning but my steering still feel heavy. I changed my rack end when my steering rack was still on my car. I managed to staked 2 sections on the washer. Is it because i hit too hard.? or i need to bleed the air from the boots? my ps fluid level is on the lower level.do I need to top up?

johnzy00

did you bleed your pump? It's not like bleeding brakes all you have to do is koeo turn your steering wheel from stop to stop about 10 times refill then turn car on and do it again

JDM_addict

ok correct me if iam wrong

don start the car first
turn 10 stop left right
refill ps fluid
turn the car on

then repeat the above again.

am I correect.?

S_F

No. You do it with the car running so the pump can move the fluid.

JDM_addict

thanks guys, will try it tonight.
so now u all are suspecting the air wen into the pump or reservoir?

johnzy00

I don't like to do it with the car running first because you have a better chance of a big air pocket coming up and sucking all the fluid through the pump and running the pump dry. Thats why i said do it with koeo (key on engine off) That way your still able to move the fluid around without taking the chance of running your pump dry. Yes you are correct the pump itself wont move the fluid without the engine running but you are able to dislodge some of the air pockets before hand. Once you've done that then start the car (after refilling) and get the rest.

JDM_addict

ok. so now i plan to drain all my ps fluid, if i do that, will more air goin into the pump/steering rack/or ..? any idea on how to drain my ps oout of the tank.? i don know how long the previous owner doesnt change the fluid.

S_F

The book has some elaborate method for draining the PS system. I have never done it. I recently changed the PS rack/pinion and got covered with PS fluid. If I have to do it again I definitely will drain it first! From time to time I do suck the old fluid out of the reservoir and replace it though. It can also be flushed apparently by some shops. I don't know what they mean though by "PS flush".

JDM_addict

ok will try it to check the book again. I'm not goin to do this tonight. maybe this weekend. DIY at home. lol.. I will update u guys again.thanks

johnzy00

Yea you can open a line and try to drain it that way but unfortunatly you will never really get all of it out. At the shops they have a machine that will suck out old ps fluid and put new back in. It's kinda like this.
Car running they stick the suction hose into the resevoir and take the fluid out(of the resevoir only) and put new fluid in.
Then the turn the steering wheel so that the new fluid goes down and old comes up.
They pretty much repeat this over and over till only clean fluid is coming up.
To answer your question ANY time you open a closed system you introduce air into it.

JDM_addict

meaning that eventho I DIY flushing ps fluid, I will still get some remaining inside my ps system. Maybe some other suggestion? jus top up the fluid or only draining from the reservoir will be enough?

johnzy00

Dont get me wrong anyway that you decide to do it will better your system a little bit but the more illaborate measures you take the better off you are. Props to you for taking the time to learn how to do it yourself. Thats what hondas are ment for to learn and have fun with them.

Do you have some sort of suction tool? If not I guess the best way to get most of it out would be to drain the resevoir, disconnect the power steering lines from the pump(put a drain pan under them) with the key on engine off turn the wheel from stop to stop trying to push out as much fluid as you can and then refill it. But remember that you will have alot of air so don't start that car until you have alot of the air bled out you will destroy that pump if you don't. Don't get discouraged or worried about it though it is very simple. Thats the best way to do it yourself without any sort of special tools. This way you are going to get ALOT of it out so I wouldn't even sweat it. Unless you want to take it somewhere and spend 70ish for them to do it and there only going to be able to get a little bit better results. Me personally I would do it this way and call it a day. Before you go through with this are you certain that your repairs are complete and correct? Not questioning you just don't want you to go through all this and then have to go back and fix a issue then do it all over again ya know.

Did you figure out your original problem? was it air in the system or what?

JDM_addict

thanks for all the DIY steps. Probably I will first top up my ps fluid until the top level on the reservoir, if problem still remain the same, then i will need to flush the entire ssytem and refill it wit new fluid.
My problem now is, i cant find Honda PS fluid. My local auto shop sell me those wit they own local production and claimed to be from honda factory. But the bottle doesnt looks like Honda original bottle(should be like this


and my local one is like this

They are totally different. they say is the same, but for me it doesnt looks the same.