Power Steering/Hydro-Boost Flush

[scott111]

Do you see any fluid leaking from anywhere? Oil spot on the ground?

[elduque1969]

no leaks anywhere I can see.

[coles220]

Originally Posted by Hook'em_Horns!

Today, I serviced the PS/HB system with a flush; I took some pictures and thought I’d share my procedure I do regularly to prolong the life of the PS and HB units and keep them functioning properly.

ITEMS NEEDED:

Drain pan
Large channel-lock pliers
5-6’ of 5/16” Fuel Line Hose
Scrap piece of 1x6
Small funnel
2-3 quarts p/s fluid, Just buy a Gallon Jug, it's cheaper.

I'm experimenting with synthetic Dex-VI, but plain PS fluid is fine. I pull heavy in bad traffic and experience higher heat levels than the average user. Looking for a synthetic PS fluid has proven to be an elusive endeavour.



Here we have the culprit at hand,



Compressing the spring clamp,



turn the hose left and right to break the seal, then pull back off the nipple.

CAUTION: in the picture below, you’ll see the curved metal brace coming from the cowl. I STRONGLY recommend you place a rag, towel, blanket, or some kind of cushion here.




When giving the final pull, the release/recoil will have the underside of your wrist striking this, with potential gashes and blood on your truck, resulting in you cussing me later. I pull mine regularly and it comes off much easier than one that's been on for 70-80k miles.

Using the spring clamp, I secure the drain hose at the HB unit




and lay the board to hold the hose in place with the drain pan in site from the Driver’s seat.



With the engine running and in Park, SLOWLY depress the brake pedal till it feels firm at the bottom and hold, turn the steering wheel from 12-3 o’clock and hold, release the pedal SLOWLY to the top, then bring the wheel back to 12 o’clock. Look down and you'll see the flow and then you can adjust your speed of press and release actions so as not to spray fluid out of the drain pan.

Here we see the old, burnt, and dirty fluid beginning to flow.





......................Continued on the next post, I'm too picture happy to conform here.

Will this help with a soft feeling brake. Its not the pads there is a ton left on them the brakes have just been feeling softer and softer. Truck omly has 19000 miles on it and tires and lift i put on at 200miles so they are not a new thing to the truck

[bigdaddydiesel]

It can't hurt, but also, you might change the brake fluid itself, Brake fluid gets old quick and also collects water from condensation pretty quick too...

How SAFE Are YOUR Brakes!?!?!?????

[coles220]

okay thank you

[Firecapt205]

I'm going to flush my PS today. After getting my truck back from GMC ( injector replacement ) I notice that my PS was making a noise. Found out the the dealer disconnect the PS and never topped off the fluid when then reconnected. Should be an easy fix since GMC did pay for all 8 injectors.

[Angel of Death]

I flushed the PS fluid in my 6.2's PS/HB system last weekend, used the whole gallon to come out halfway clean. I think this will become an annual practice for all my trucks. $16/gallon is cheap enough. The only differance is that I drew out my reseviour with a turkey baster looking battery fill tool, replaced the oil, lock to lock while pumping the brakes and repeated the process.

[AlisoBob]

Originally Posted by Angel of Death

I think this will become an annual practice for all my trucks.

The concept is to service it every oil change to keep the fluid clean and fresh..... continuously.

To suck it out, and refill takes 5 extra minutes every service.

[Hook'em_Horns!]

Replacing the fluid in the PS pump reservoir does nothing to address the burnt fluid in the HB unit, IMO. Similar to having new fluid in the MC and not flushing the lines to the calipers.

[AlisoBob]

Brake fluid is static... it dosent circulate.

Power steering / Hydro Boost fluid is dynamic... it does.

Totally different concepts.