Power steering Service, +1.

[JT_MONEY_2004]

Planning on replacing current p/s fluid w/ Mobil 1 ATF... per board.No idea what's in there now, but i'm wondering if i need/should pull the return line on this, the first replacement, to not have a large % of old and new fluid mixing...

will the M1 ATF be compatible with whatever is in there now?

is it ok to just do the turkey baster thing over the next couple wks?

current fluid is not foamy or burnt.

+1: Is the job of replacing the rack and pinion boots one for the experienced? I'm a novice weekender with standard tools.

'90 q45 std

[pito11213]

1. As far as power steering fluid you could turn on the car and turn the steering wheel all the way left and right but you would need someone underneath to tighten things back up on each set of turns. Every time you finish with the turning just refill the resevoir with fluid.

2.The rack and pinion boot replacement requires removal of the tie-rods and that is a pretty big job for you. Never mind the fact that the front end needs to be off of the ground.

[psychic_mechanic]

Why are you replacing the boots?

That will not fix a leak if you have one.

[911/Q45]

If you have torn boots, but no leak, you can replace them by unscrewing the tie rod ends, not removing them. The only trick is making sure you put the ends back with the exact # of threads showing that were there before you started. If the rack leaks, it needs to be removed and rebuilt or replaced.

[JT_MONEY_2004]

I think the rack did have a slight leak, i've been paying keen attention to it over the past 5 mos. The fluid level hasn't changed (not much anyways), but the boots were slick when i got the car 5mos ago. About 3 mos ago i added the lucas p/s stop leak stuff and still hadn't had a drop in fluid level since.

At this point i'd prefer to replace the boots and prevent any more dubris from damaging the rack further, and if need be later on, i'll tackle replacing this non-economical part.

Right now the steering still feels perfect...to me.

[JT_MONEY_2004]

Will the p/s Stop Leak lucas makes be compatible w/ M1 ATF?

I know many of you don't like to use this stuff but i still wanna know if they can work together.

[maxnix]

Personally, I would be doing a complete mechanical extraction and repalcement of the fluid. It takes at least a gallon of ATF for a uncontaminated system.

Save the turkey baster for Thanksgiving.

[Q45tech]

Or just use generic ATF for flushing and then final fill with expensive synthetics [all ATF are synthetics in that the base oil is manmade] where as engine oil may not be at least hydrocracked.

BG makes a quick clean for PS flushing and a great PS additive to fix seals.

[JT_MONEY_2004]

Is the BG stuff a much better additive than the Lucas additive?

Whats the purpose of using ATF anyways instead of p/s fluid, i read some of the old posts but haven't found the reason in any of the ones i read, maybe someone could insert the thread link or outright state it.

[pito11213]

Power steering fluid and Transmission fluid are essentially the same thing (hydraulic fluid) I am sure there is a more technical reason for people to say this but all I know is the obvious.

BG has been used by big automotive centers and dealerships for years. It is considered heavy duty stuff.