Thread: power steering problem

My power steering was making a horrible whining noise so I changed out the power steering pump and noticed my rack was leaking so I went ahead and changed that out as well. Now I bled it with the wheels off the ground and drove it around. It still made the whining sound when I would turn the wheel. I tried bleeding it again with no sucess. I drove it a couple of days hoping it would work itself out. The fluid level was were it was suppose to be. But the sound just kept getting worse. I ended changing the pump out again, under warranty, and this time I figured I bleed it really good before I drive it. I have it up on jacks right now and turned the wheel back and fourth many atimes. Turned the car on for 2 seconds and checked the fluid. Saw a bunch or white foamy bubbles. So I bled it again. Did that process all night last night. And it seems like the bubbles are not going away. If I leave the wheels turned all the way in either direction, with the car off, and I look at the fluid I can see little air bubbles come up. I watch it for several minutes and I still see the little air bubble come up. So my question is, am I doing something wrong? Why am I getting so many air bubbles? The fluid is not dropping any. And I did flush out the old fluid. Can something be causing air to get in the system?

The only thing that will let air in the system would be a fluid leak I would think. As long as your lines are tight then you should be good to go. I went through this same dance w/ an Impala. up on jacks, lock to lock, drop back down and drive. Still whining. Repeat process, lol... It took quite a while to work out all the air to the point where the pump would shut up. Seeing as you had everything open I'd be willing to bet there is air still in it somewhere.

When you are bleeding it with the car up off wheels and check the fluid, do you feel a bit of air/pressure escape when you pop the cap from the resivoir?

As I turn it all the way to the right it seems to be a little harder. Have not ran it very long with the car on to hear the whine. But have not heard it yet. And i am bleeding it with the cap off. Am I suppose to have the cap on when I am bleeding it?

Ok thanks for the help. I am going to keep bleeding it and see what happens.

ok so I have been bleeding it for the past hour or so. The bubbles had pretty much stopped popping up so I decided to turn the car on for a couple of seconds and see what happens. The car made that whining noise at first, then went away. And after I turned it off I checked the fluid and it was full of foamy white bubbles. What causes all that foam? Does that mean there is still air in the system?

I had to bleed the Imp with it running while it was jacked up, that way the pump was circulating fluid as I turned it lock to lock. If the whining has quit while the car is running then you are good to go.

And I 2nd the return line, as this was what was leaking on the Imp after a mis-diagnosis from Dobbs calling for a PS pump replacement. I guess they didn't even bother to look as it was obviously wet only on the return line.

ok thanks I will look at the return line. It still was whining a little with the car on.

It does look old and beat up. I cant tell of it being wet cause its all wet from draining the fluid from the ps pump. I am going to go ahead and change out the return hose and see what happens. Not looking foward to it but I am looking forward to being done with it and driving without the whining noise.

How do I know if my car has vaiable assist or not?

Are you talking about where the steering shaft hooks up to the rack and pinion? Around that area?

ok thanks