Power Steering Woes (Realtime)

[coues7]

97 runner Power Steering Woes (Realtime)

So my power steering pump was whining/moaning and I did something dumb.....I flushed the entire power steering system with PS Fluid NOT ATF. Drove it for one day and obviously it was worse.

Ordered a factory Toyota rebuild kit from ebay for $25 and rebuilt the power steering pump. I took measurements and followed the FSM exactly (proper torque....the whole enchilada). I reassembled and reinstalled. I purged the system (per the manual and threads here) with Valvoline full synthetic dex ATF. Still whining and moaning. When I look at the fluid it is NOT transparent red like it is coming out of the bottle. It looks a little brown and is not transparent.

At this point I figure I had rebuilt something wrong, so I decide I got more money than brains so I buy a brand new replacement (not rebuilt). Go through the flush/purge process, reassemble, add a magnefine filter, and fire off. Still whining and the fluid is still the nontransparent dark red!!! I am running the Valvoline full synthetic dex ATF

What have I done wrong? Help PLEASE

 

[IBallEngineer]

Sounds like it is sucking air, look at your hoses!

 

[coues7]

How would I know a hose it leaking? Hose clamps are all on. I have tightened everything to the FSM specs using a snap on digital torque wrench. The pressure feed tube banjo bolt was torqued to 35 ft/lbs. There are two hoses that come into the back of that pressure feed tube and I have checked those. I so bummed. The only thing I can see is on the drivers side of the rack and pinion it looks a little wet like a leak. I don't even want to go there.....those are $250-$500.

 

[nevada]

there is probably a restriction in the rack, or possibly a line. but, my bet is on the rack. you might try to get a can of cleaner and run it through the system. it might help.

also, PS fluid wont hurt anything.

 

[coues7]

What can I do to test that the rack and pinion is bad? Like I said, they are between $250-$500, plus an entires day time to install, plus a wheel alignment.....

 

[coues7]

Replaced the rack and pinion (26-2625) and power steering pump.....problem solved. Took about 3 hours to do everything.