Steering wheel air bleeding

LP23601

MEMBER
1993 INFINITI I30
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
110 MILES

Steering wheel all the way to one side for a few seconds, then do the same to the other side. The problem is no matter how I do, or no matter how many times I do, there are always bubbles overflowing from the reservoir. It seems like the air is always trapped the system.
So I try a different way to do the whole thing slowly. Take out the belt and hook up a air wrench (because of the tiny space. Otherwise I could use a drill) on to the bolt at the center of pump pulley, and spin it. I gradually add fluid to the reservoir while the pulley spins. The fluid level goes down. Once I stop the air wrench I can see the fluid level bounces back a little (air is still trapped?). But when I put the belt back and start the engine, the bubbles are still coming out of the reservoir.
What is the best way bleed the air? Did I do anything wrong?

8 Replies

DOCFIXIT

MECHANIC
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If it is not squaling and operation is smooth it's O.K. Fluid will foam normaly

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Thursday, January 13th, 2011 AT 9:41 PM

LP23601

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13 POSTS

Thanks for the answer. The problem is that the liquid overflows all over.

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Thursday, January 13th, 2011 AT 9:51 PM

DOCFIXIT

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Turning wheel lock to lock normally gets air out. Fluid level correct? Does all fluid get expelled? What was replaced?

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Friday, January 14th, 2011 AT 3:48 PM

LP23601

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Thanks for reply.
I followed the procedure exactly, turn the wheel to one side all the way for a few seconds, and do the other side all the way for a few seconds.
Yes the fluid gets expelled because of the air in the fluid.
Nothing was replace. I did some engine work and took the pump out. Once I put back on the problem started. So my first thought was to rebuild the pump which I did, but the problem is still there.
Sorry the mileage is 110K and the car model is J30.

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Friday, January 14th, 2011 AT 4:07 PM

DOCFIXIT

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Check control valve see if it is seating

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Friday, January 14th, 2011 AT 4:47 PM

LP23601

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Great. THanks. Will do that this weekend.

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Friday, January 14th, 2011 AT 5:41 PM

LP23601

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13 POSTS

Thanks very much Docfixit. I took it apart and put back on. It works perfectly now without any foam coming out of the reservoir.

So just out of my curiosity, what caused the problem? When I took it apart it has only three pieces: the high pressure fitting, the valve, and the spring. There are no broken parts. They are all simply parts and the mechanism is very simple. Whatever way you install it it can’t go wrong too much.

The way I bled this time is that when I put everything back on I used a drill first to spin the steering pump pulley which has lower speed than engine speed, to expel the air. But I am not sure if it has anything to do with it.

Thanks much. I will be a regular visitor of this site.

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Wednesday, January 19th, 2011 AT 10:33 PM

DOCFIXIT