Flushed PS system
05-28-2002, 06:57 PM
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Flushed PS system
Well, I finally got around to flushing the power steering system this weekend. I unhooked the return line from the resevoir and drained all of the old fluid out. I then reconnected the return line and filled the resevoir up about 1/3-way with Pentosin 11S. After starting the car, I turned the wheel left and right and after about 20 seconds turned it off. I then disconnected the return line and once again drained the fluid. I repeated once more and then drained all of the remaining fluid out again. I also took out the extremely dirty screen inside the resevoir and cleaned it thoroughly with some brake cleaner solvent. After topping off with clean fluid, I ran the car for about a minute. I then added more fluid to get up to the MAX line and took it for a test drive. BTW, the old fluid was very dirty and brown in color. I am not sure what was in there before I replaced it with the green stuff.
Now, the problem that I was having prior to the flushing was that I was getting a groaning noise and a very unpleasant choppiness after the car had really had a chance to heat up (20 minutes or so). After changing the fluid and cleaning the screen, it appears that both of these symptons have subsided, but not disappeared altogether. I would say that had this type of maintenance been done at some point before the 142,000 miles were put on it, it may have saved the rack. However, I feel that I will probably ultimately have to make a decision about replacing the rack. I have been pricing them out and I have seen remanufactured racks for about $250. I am guessing that labor will cost me about $500, so it becomes a matter of simple economics about spending that kind of money on a high mileage vehicle. I am leaning towards doing it only because the body is very solid (no rust) and the engine still feels very strong and I have read posts about the 2.8 going into 300,000 territory. Tough decision.....
Now, the problem that I was having prior to the flushing was that I was getting a groaning noise and a very unpleasant choppiness after the car had really had a chance to heat up (20 minutes or so). After changing the fluid and cleaning the screen, it appears that both of these symptons have subsided, but not disappeared altogether. I would say that had this type of maintenance been done at some point before the 142,000 miles were put on it, it may have saved the rack. However, I feel that I will probably ultimately have to make a decision about replacing the rack. I have been pricing them out and I have seen remanufactured racks for about $250. I am guessing that labor will cost me about $500, so it becomes a matter of simple economics about spending that kind of money on a high mileage vehicle. I am leaning towards doing it only because the body is very solid (no rust) and the engine still feels very strong and I have read posts about the 2.8 going into 300,000 territory. Tough decision.....
05-28-2002, 07:29 PM
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Re: Flushed PS system
You might be able to find someone to rebuild the rack for half the cost. Here in the Salt Lake City Utah area there is an Audi only specialty repair shop (Alpine Foreign Repair)that rebuilds racks. They rebuilt the rack on my '87 5000CS for $300.00. They do great work.
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