Bleeding a steering rack.

[Moots1288]

I have actually never bled a steering rack before, and I just replaced the rack and wondering is there a quick way or any tricks in order to bleed the rack and pinion

[TBYODA]

check this out

[ErikSS]

I'm pretty sure you just turn the wheels lock to lock 2-3 times. Easy.

[Dammann35]

Yeah you just turn the wheel back an forth 10 times each

[DirtyBacon04]

i thought you turn them almost all the way, but don't hit the stop.

[ErikSS]

i thought you turn them almost all the way, but don't hit the stop.

That could be, but I'm curious about the purpose stopping short....

[Moots1288]

i thought you turn them almost all the way, but don't hit the stop.

That could be, but I'm curious about the purpose stopping short....

Maybe so you dont slam the rack dry? But really shouldnt matter. There will be fluid in there. Im just guessing

[DirtyBacon04]

i thought you turn them almost all the way, but don't hit the stop.

That could be, but I'm curious about the purpose stopping short....

Maybe so you dont slam the rack dry?

i thought that was common knowledge...

[Moots1288]

Damn, well I learn something new cause I just go broke, dry or oiled shouldn't have a problem

[Trail X]

i thought you turn them almost all the way, but don't hit the stop.

That could be, but I'm curious about the purpose stopping short....

Maybe so you dont slam the rack dry? But really shouldnt matter. There will be fluid in there. Im just guessing

I think its irrelevant either way because our end stops are in our knuckle, not in our rack.

[v7guy]

James, that was my thoughts as well. Our rack doesn't have internal stops per say, the knuckle limits it.

In my case I've read a dozen different methods, at the end of the day I filled it up, let the truck run, filled up the reservoir, then went lock to lock a few times. Topped it off, let it idle until I didn't see signs of air, then drove around the block and it was good.


If it's full and there is no power steering and you're not leaking fluid, the pump isn't building pressure and it's probably shot.

[ErikSS]

Jason, that's exactly what I do.

He's installed 2 new pumps, still no pressure. I guess it started working, he drove it around the block. Now the pump wines and he doesnt have power steering. Anybody have ideas for him? Matt, feel free to correct me if I screweed it up. I'm just trying to get more opinions.

[Moots1288]

Is there any way that the high and low side are swapped on the older racks? maybe I was sent an earlier model?

And yes thats what happened, I had power steering for the first maybe 100 feet then it started whining like a mofo and I lost power steering. There are no air bubbles, I've bleed it multiple ways and still have nothing.

[v7guy]

You would think there would be some documentation somewhere about the two sides being switched if that was the case, plus the 04 and 07 has the same part numbers.

[Trail X]

It doesn't sound like there is air in your rack, I can't see that blowing a pump, only making steering "mushy". Its kinda self-bleeding.

Have you tried unhooking the lines and seeing if the pump itself is just not pumping fluid out? I recall our pump has a mechanical fuse on the pulley that will shear if too much load is put on the pump. I don't think air in the system would make the load increase in any way.

[Moots1288]

I need to check that out, couldn't get under the truck tonight. I need to figure out why there would be a load like that on the pump unless there is obstruction inside the rack. The lines were clear before I put them into the new rack. Dirt could have fallen into the rack and causing the load on the pump?

[Opeth]

I've had to go through 3 reman pumps before I got to one that actually worked on another vehicle....

[Moots1288]

Installed my original rack and pinion back in and got my 3rd pump and bled it up, it now works like a charm

[Opeth]

Funny how it takes 3 pumps to get it right....I was just across the creek from you last night on Hunts point in the Bronx.

[Moots1288]

Funny how it takes 3 pumps to get it right....I was just across the creek from you last night on Hunts point in the Bronx.

Should have sent me a text man, and it took my old rack.