pcmarks

Hey everyone. I'm wanting to flush the power steering on my 2005 3.2 C6 and finding some great content in the forum, but wondering if anyone has any photos posted of the procedure? I know it involves disconnecting the power steering return and supply lines but I'm unclear on where I disconnect them (from the PS reservoir or underneath the car). Also stumped on how to remove the clamps found on the hoses-they're a kind I'm not familiar with. I'll post some photos of what I'm seeing and would really appreciate any and all of your photos/feedback from the procedure. Thanks!


The lines connected to the reservoir with the clamps that I'm unclear on how to remove.

The same lines from underneath the car, with similar clamps.

pcmarks

Bump

raj99

@pcmarks - here's what I did when I changed out my power steering fluid. It was about a 10 min job and relatively easy to do:

Essentially I leveraged the pump to force out the current fluid in the system and then kept 'topping' up with new fluid. Here's the DIY:

1 - Remove the smaller return hose from then pump and plug it right away with a 3/8" hose w/ a bolt rammed in it.

2 - Attach a meter long 3/8" hose to the return line. I used a short section of tubing and a worm gear clamp.

3 - Run the hose into a gallon container

4 - Start the engine and in 10 seconds the pump will make a growling noise

5 - shut engine off and fill reservoir to the top. Repeat about 4 times. I used 2 liters of chf-11s.

6 - Use the worm gear clamp to attach to bottom of reservoir.

7 - Top off to correct level.

8 - dropped a small magnet into the top of the filter; to trap any ferrous particles

BTW, the air in the system will go away on it's own.

pcmarks

@raj99 Thanks for the response. I tried removing the PS reservoir from the housing to gain access to the clamp on the return line but didn't have enough clearance. I would still be able to replicate your process if I disconnected the return line from underneath the car, right? My car has the 3.2 engine, if that makes any difference. I'm thinking I should be able to disconnect the line from underneath the car, at the point where it connects with the cooling pipe. The return line is part # 10 in the diagram below and connects to the cooling pipe that bends upwards, correct?

raj99

Not sure how there wasn't enough room, since my engine is a 4.2 and larger with even less room to deal with than your 3.2. Did you actually loosen the reservoir holder and then take it out of the bracket? I suppose you could do it further down and it's the same process.

pcmarks

I completely removed the reservoir from the bracket and checked to see if there was anything else holding it in. For whatever reason, there wasn't enough flexibility to get to the clamp on the return line. I assumed I should be able to duplicate the process from the bottom, just figured I'd check first. Appreciate the help!

hrc4u

i did that flush on my 3.2 couple of years ago...no problem to remove return as raj said...?
cheers/H

pcmarks

Yeah, for whatever reason, I could remove the reservoir from the housing but couldn't lift it up high enough to get access to the clamp on the return line. I ended up just getting underneath the car and disconnecting the return line from the cooling pipe and doing the flush that way. Thanks for the help, everyone.