Air in Power Steeringin Line

[Lazzman]

Need help, I recently changed my power steering fluid, which was nice shade of black and now I have air in the lines which is causing the wheel to shake at highway speeds.

I followed the procedures in the Ford manual for getting the air out and purchased a Mityvac hand pump in order to pressurize the system while I turn the wheel back and forth lock to lock.

The mightyvac seems to be the same pump that Ford recommends in there instructions.

Thing is I cannot find a fitting that will fit over the power steering resevoir, I bought the delux kit and it seems to be exactly the same as the kit Ford shows.

Is there an adaptor I need to buy or something. In their instructions Ford mentions inserting a rubber cork firmly into the fluid resevoir?? I have no rubber cork in my kit and did not notice one in the Ford kit either.

Any help would be great

 

[TedJ]

With no actual knowledge of the situation / service procedure, I'm just going to suggest something here...

Asuming the reservoir is the same as the older ones where it basically looks like a plastic tube with a cap that fits onto the end, you could try a fernco type reducer fitting from the plumbing section at the local home center. Get one with the right diameter to fit over the reservoir, then get some misc other parts to get it down to the right size for the hose on the pump, or one of the adapters in the kit.

Something like this....

 

[janolsson]

Can't comment on the cap thing but what makes you think the shake at highway speeds is air in the line?
I have had shake in the steering from air in there and it happened at low speeds. The way to sort it is to remove the cap and with the engine running turn the steering lock to lock 3 or 4 times, then replace the cap and test drive.
Shakin at high way speeds would make me check my tire pressure first and then test drive (recently mine were a fair amount low and caused shake at 70 mph) and if this doesn't work then try getting the front wheels balanced.
Regards

 

[Lazzman]

Thank for the suggestion about the fernco caps I will look into it.

I will also check the tire pressure, I think it has something to do with air in the steering as it got 10x worse after I changed the power steering fluid.

By the way when I was turning the wheel lock to lock I always kept the steering resevoir cap on, today I will do this with the cap off, thanks for the tip mate.

 

[EricM9104]

Can't comment on the cap thing but what makes you think the shake at highway speeds is air in the line?
I have had shake in the steering from air in there and it happened at low speeds. The way to sort it is to remove the cap and with the engine running turn the steering lock to lock 3 or 4 times, then replace the cap and test drive.
Shakin at high way speeds would make me check my tire pressure first and then test drive (recently mine were a fair amount low and caused shake at 70 mph) and if this doesn't work then try getting the front wheels balanced.
Regards

x2
Last time my wheels and steering wheel shook like no other under turning... low on power steering fluid

 

[McSlug]

This is how I bled mine and it worked perfectly first time.

Fill reservoir with fluid, Undo return line on the reservoir, Plug the bottom of the reservoir to stop the fluid leaking out, Get a container to catch the fluid from the return hose, Get someone to turn on the car and turn steering wheel full lock both ways a few times, Turn off engine, Put return hose back on, Top up fluid.

 

[2000LXS]

If the clamps are old they will not seal the lines!!!!!!
The line you take off to change the fluid will let air in change it and all will be fine trust me. Turn lock to lock with new clamp or clamps.