Tight Steering

[Blade69]

I know i'm still learning my 4.8is, but I wanted to make sure this is just the way it is. My steering is generally nice and easy. The way power steering is supposed to be. At highway speeds, I think it feels a bit tighter....which is fine. At low speeds, most of the time, it's pretty light. But every now and then, it's a bit tight when making turns from a slow roll (like making a left turn out of the intersection, or slow down to make a right turn. I'm thinking that maybe at those time I brake a little hard and it activates the sport mode and tightens up. But I don't recall. Thoughts?

Oh, I have the air suspension and aftermarket wheels if that matters. The wheels are 18s. And like I said, this doesn't happens all the time.

[SlickGT1]

Maybe change out the power steering fluid. My 4.8is, 2006, requires pentosil for the fluid, which is really green. When I pumped out the old fluid, it was really brown. I did it once so far, but plan on doing this process two more times, maybe more. No issues with steering, just decided to freshen it up. Check your fluid. It is usually neglected.

[Jordo]

Mine has a simular issue. It has developed tight spots in the steering wheel rotation. It's boarder line un-safe! My fluid is correct level, but looks brown. Idk if fluid change would help me or not.

Does anyone know where it should be drained from? Any pics?

Thanks,

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Jordo

Mine has a simular issue. It has developed tight spots in the steering wheel rotation. It's boarder line un-safe! My fluid is correct level, but looks brown. Idk if fluid change would help me or not.

Does anyone know where it should be drained from? Any pics?

Thanks,

I believe the recommended procedure is using a turkey baster, taking some out, filling it up to the top, going for a drive, coming back, and taking another baster full out, and topping off.

Do this process quite a few times over a few days and I believe using about 2 quarts worth should get most if not all of it out of the system.


I'm going to do this process myself since I have some noises every now and then from my steering (no leaks though), so I think some fresh fluid would help me.

[SlickGT1]

Guys, do some searches. I ran into a couple a few months back. People have reported those dead spots, and PS fluid change improves this a lot. Even the first time you get the reservoir empty and new fluid, you will feel a difference.

Instead of turkey baster, a $10 hand pump, like those used to pump trans fluid back into the car will work great to get the old fluid out.

I bought a quart of pentosil, did the empty fill thing ones, and I am sure it will last me at least two more times.

Oh yeah, make sure you put the right fluid in. My car, has a green sticker on the PS cap, CHF 11S ONLY. So no ATF. If you put in ATF, you shot yourself.

[Jordo]

^ I will do this tomorrow and report back

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Guys, do some searches. I ran into a couple a few months back. People have reported those dead spots, and PS fluid change improves this a lot. Even the first time you get the reservoir empty and new fluid, you will feel a difference.

Instead of turkey baster, a $10 hand pump, like those used to pump trans fluid back into the car will work great to get the old fluid out.

I bought a quart of pentosil, did the empty fill thing ones, and I am sure it will last me at least two more times.

Oh yeah, make sure you put the right fluid in. My car, has a green sticker on the PS cap, CHF 11S ONLY. So no ATF. If you put in ATF, you shot yourself.

Good call slick, and yes great recommendation to read your cap, mine on my 2003 does say "ATF oil only" so I will be stopping by Autozone or something and get some Mobil 1 ATF to pump in.


Does anyone know the capacity of our PS system?

[Jordo]

Ok, I ended up just trying it last night. I think this is the power steering fill/resivor... lol.



When I opened the lid, it was low, and smelled burnt and kind of sweet, like sugar.
I used this hand pump to suck out all the fluid in the resivor...



Then I filled it up with new, started the car and did full right to left turns, over and over and over again. I repeted this untill I had replaced 2 quarts of the ATF with new.

The steering is sooo much better! Not perfect.... But I'd say 95% better! So I'll put a few miles on it and continue the process untill fluid looks fresh.

Thanks for your help guys!

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Good call slick, and yes great recommendation to read your cap, mine on my 2003 does say "ATF oil only" so I will be stopping by Autozone or something and get some Mobil 1 ATF to pump in.


Does anyone know the capacity of our PS system?

Not sure of exact capacity, but I know from reading previous threads that 2 quarts will be more than enough to do this more than 4 times.

I am pretty it will take more than two fills to get it to clean up.

What Jordo did is fine.

I didn't want to do it a few times right away, because I don't like stressing the steering while standing still. So I did it once. Drove around for a week. Did it again last night, fluid looked like shit again. And remember pentosil is crazy green. Like this face color, . So that tells me that it mixes quite well. Going to keep doing it till it stays green after a week.

Oh and it is just too easy to do with a pump and an empty beer bottle.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Jordo

Then I filled it up with new, started the car and did full right to left turns, over and over and over again. I repeted this untill I had replaced 2 quarts of the ATF with new.

The steering is sooo much better! Not perfect.... But I'd say 95% better! So I'll put a few miles on it and continue the process untill fluid looks fresh.

Thanks for your help guys!

Sounds good man! Makes me excited to do mine now, you just emptied and refilled the reservoir each time right?

Maybe i'll do a little more than 2 quarts over the course of a week to make sure it is all fresh!