How much fluid for a steering gear rebuild?

montanaman

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Western Montana
I'm getting ready to rebuild my power steering gearbox. How much power steering fluid should I buy? I want to purge the power steering pump, and obviously the steering gearbox will need to be refilled when I'm done rebuilding. How many quarts of fluid will I need?

Thanks.
 
dont over think this. get like 2 quarts of atf and you'll be fine..

You put ATF in your steering gear box? Not power steering fluid?

Also ... I live 40 miles from the nearest store. I need to think ahead to make sure I have everything I need before I tear into my vehicle. I'd like to buy as much as I need, and no more.
 
I know many people use ATF, and I've done so for years on other vehicles, including a couple of Mercedes that use Saginaw components just like a Jeep's, but the one time I tried this after replacing an XJ box and pump (with used ones) it howled in protest and took about two fills' worth of PS fluid to flush out and quiet down. Coincidence, maybe, but since then I get the stuff that says "power steering fluid" on the can.
 
It only takes a quart or so to completely refill the system--the reservoir is small, and the pump is directly over the box so the lines are very short. If you are going to be doing a lot of cleanup work you will need to a bunch of fluid to fill and purge.

The best power steering fluid is the synthetic Valvoline ps fluid. I have only found it reliably at Advance Auto, and rarely find it anywhere else. They sell it by the gallon too, and you will probably need 1-2 gallons depending

You can fill it with Type-F ATF and run it for a bit if you like. It will make noise but it will clean the system pretty well. You'll need to completely drain and refill with real power steering fluid. I believe that some of the recent models specify Mopar ATF as usable fluid but I don't know what those pumps are or the properties of the fluid. Type-F is a detergent hydraulic fluid for old Ford transmissions, newer ATF is more of a lightweight motor oil with some additives, so they are pretty different animals.

Easiest way to drain is to disconnect the low-pressure (rubber) return line that goes from the gear box to the reservoir, and let the fluid drain out of the reservoir. This won't evacuate the box or the pump but most of the fluid will be in the low-pressure side.
 
Ive been running atf for a few years now in my current rig and a few years in my old rig. no problems with heat or noise. to each his own i guess.

I did a power steering pump a few months back for a buddy's xj and he got the pump at napa or one of those parts stores and it came prefilled with ATF in it.
 
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I rebuild a lot of boxes. I can refill my system with hydro assist with a single quart.
 
Those estimates are probably from people who haven't done it. I have rebuilt literally hundreds of steering gears.

Hydro Assist is when you drill and tap the steering gear, add hoses and an external hydraulic cylinder on the tie rod to bump up the steering force capability by a couple of times.
 
Those estimates are probably from people who haven't done it. I have rebuilt literally hundreds of steering gears.

Hydro Assist is when you drill and tap the steering gear, add hoses and an external hydraulic cylinder on the tie rod to bump up the steering force capability by a couple of times.

So, if I drain my entire power steering pump (reservoir and the pump itself) and steering gear box, I can refill all of it with only 1 quart? That would be good if so.

Also, what kind of fluid do you recommend?
 
I don't run anything special. Most times it is the generic house brand at around $5 a quart.
 
Think the quantity depends on how well you want to flush it out. I disconnected the low pressure line and pumped new fluid through the box a few times while cycling the steering. After pumping 2 quarts of clear fluid through the resevoir and box, it was still coming out yellow/brownish. Definitely improved compared to the fluid that was coming out at first, but still not completely clear.
 
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