Power steering service?

[Windsor342ci]

Hi guys,

As said above, can this be done? Another one of my cars, the 95 Camry isnt smooth in it turns. Its as if the power steering cuts in and out as I turn further or just hold the turn.
I went to top it up thinking it was low but its still full but definatly needs replacing of fluid. Is it a matter of just pulling out the bottom hose on the catchment? Or more too it.

Cheers

[MattSAU2XR8]

I'm not sure exactly what is wrong with your power steering if it is in effect turning the power on and off while you are driving around corners. Possibilities I suppose include a loose belt, a pump that is almost worn out, a problem with whatever valves control fluid pressure in the rack itself, or the seals in the rack being worn and allowing fluid to leak back to the low pressure side, assuming it is rack and pinion.

As far as servicing goes, all I think this would involve is new fluid, and possibly a new filter if one is fitted, which it probably isn't.

To change the fluid this is what I did on my XR8:
- Buy 3 litres of suitable fluid, I think it was Mobil 424,
- Use an oil syringe to empty out the reservoir,
- Pull the return line off and divert it to an old 5 litre oil can,
- Open all three by one litre bottles of steering fluid,
- Get a mate to start the car and turn the steering wheel very slowly from one side to the other while you pour new fluid in as old fluid comes out.
- Get your mate to turn the engine off if fluid comes out faster than you can pour it in.
- When the fluid coming out looks new you're pretty much there.
- Mine wasn't leaking so much as weeping so I just added 1/3 bottle of power steering stop leak which apparently helps to swell up worn seals.

I'm aiming to do this every 50,000 kms or so since fluid is cheap, there appears to be no filter, and power steering bits are expensive.

Having said all this, I'm not sure that this will fix your problem. Maybe swing by a power steering shop other than pedders and ask what they think?