Power Steering Flush - "How To"

I can’t wait to get mine done. Looks awesome.

 

Thanks. I’ve also been replacing the rubber fuel lines. Nothing like 24 year old rubber under there. I once had one rupture on a first gen Tacoma. Cost a pretty penny to fix since I was far from home but close to the dealer.

 

Had a longer time at it than I thought. 60% of the job was messing with small jacks and uneven gravel driveway. Got fed up and bought a Walmart 4-ton jack. Second hiccup was how completely sludged the PS reservoir was. Like I couldn’t see the mesh of the screen through it. Surprisingly the fluid didn’t seem as dark as it should have been. I just hit it with a whole can brake clean and shook it around inside until the screen cleared up but I had to scrape a lot of sludge off that wouldn’t dissolve in the brake clean bath. Rinsed off with atf before installing. Fluid turned cherry after 2 quarts but I leaked some hooking the hoses back up so I’m glad I had a 3rd to top off. Ordered some atp-205 and will apply soon. Steering sounds much happier now that it’s fresh, now I just need the tie rods, sway links, lbj, and LCAs and it will turn like butter. Sorry I had ATF hands or I would have taken more pictures. I used Mobil 1 multi vehicle full synthetic that said it meets dex 3

 

It seemed to separate in the drain container with the fresh stuff on top, this was the color from the bottom

 

I just installed a new rack and pinion and flushed the system I wish I had seen this thread first. would have saved me some headaches

 

What an easy chore this turned out to be! I’ve got about 56K on the clock, I’ve always sucked the reservoir out with an automotive turkey baster every time I change the oil, but this was so much more satisfying. Once the truck is jacked up and you’ve got the key in the ignition, you can just turn the wheels from lock to lock at the tire. I did a little bit of both. One round of lock to lock left and right, you need to refill the reservoir. I did 3 quarts but it looked pretty good at 2.

i’m quite sure it’s placebo, but it feels butter smooth.

This year I have now changed all the fluids in the truck except the transmission. I did the coolant last year but this year I did front and rear differential, transfer case and obviously motor oil and when I did the pads I did the brake fluid. After the first of the year I plan on doing the transmission, but I may pay someone to do that, just a pan drop, filter change and refill.

 

That's what I appreciate about our 1st gens. No reason to replace the filter. It's not a traditional filter, just perforated metal.

 

I did my flush not too long ago. Used Mobil 1 full synthetic atf and added the recommended amount of

$15 AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce Bottle

AT-205. Now something is wrong and steering is difficult to turn when switching between longer right and left when driving. 175k miles, not saying it’s related to either product, but maybe? No weird noise and no physical interference I can see, lost maybe 1 oz of fluid but that could be the same as before. is it the pump or the rack?

 

Could this also be my problem? Maybe the screen is partially blocked. I went on a trip from NY to Mi and Back. half way over the steering began to get tight and not feel like I had power assist. Sometimes it worked turning right and left but mainly it was just tight and in spots while turning felt fine. I checked the power steering fluid and it was just a bit low from the high side hot ( Dark nasty looking ) . I added some fluid and it didn't really help. I was thinking it was a pump or a rack. But if there is a screen in the res. I think I should start there first? By the way it is a 2016 SR5 CM 5.7 with 92000 miles stock no lift kit. I crawled under the truck and couldn't see any leaks. I will also push the bellows back that protect the inner tie rod and see if they are wet. Thoughts?

 

Not many of us on the FGT side would know the ins and outs of your truck better than the guys in the turd gen sub section. But I do see you tried there yesterday with no luck which is probably why you are here.

 

It was not anything to do with power steering nor a rack. The lower intermediate steering shaft u joint was froze. Put a new one in and it drives like a dream.

 

If you have a 'power steering air control valve' on your way newer Tundra like we do on our ancient-ass ones, maybe it has failed, or a vacuum line has come loose.

If you have a vacuum line that helps assist with power steering on your newer truck, it's possible the line is cracked, loose, or missing.

Sadly, I think most of the knowledge about this stuff is pretty generation-specific @WNY Flyguy, and this is the 2000-2006 subforum, so we're all driving a bunch of ancient relics compared to your newfangled thingamajig.