Bleeding the power steering?

In restoring my 71 Comet GT... I have installed all new power steering components. I mean everything. Now, when I turn the wheels, it makes horrible noises. I was told I need to bleed the unit. I have bled brakes before, but how do I bleed this God-awful power steering setup? I might be wishing I had taken all this stuff off and gone with manual steering... but if I can get it right and not leak....????

 

Maybe put a shallow drain pan under your cylinder and loosen a line, one at a time, while having someone slowly moving the steering - might help get that air out of the system

 

Well I dunno but having heard various stories on noise issues, I plan on using a vac bleeder on the return line to get as much air as possible from the lines(my system is totally dry as well)...

The shop manual says to fill reservoir, start engine, turn wheels in each direction then cut engine and refill... Cut engine is likely the key, if the pump continues to turn more and more air will be induced into the fluid...

 

They're not like New cars where you fill the res., turn the wheels back and forth with the engine off, tires off the ground and keep adding fluid till it stops taking fluid?

 

Just crank the wheels back and forth to the end stops several times and that should bleed all the air out.
Ron

 

Yup, that's how it worked for me.

 

I jacked the front of the car off the ground and turned the wheels from lock to lock while the car was running. It will get the air out.

 

the reman power steering comp. in the past said to jack it up and have it running and steer back and forth but don't hit the stops. stop steering just before u dead head it on the stops. I had replaced all the components on mine and ended up going with a manual setup . I don't like the powersteering on these cars, seems like youre always chasing leaks at sometime or another and they just don't work that good nothing like a newer car,save yourself the headaches and go manual.

 

same here...went manual rack n pinion...

 

No power on my rack either but the car was manual in stock form anyway

 

Well chances I'll eliminate the P/S are less than zero & none...

I drove Fords with this system in the '70s & early '80s without issue, if my rebuild of the valve or cylinder hasn't stopped the leaks, I'll buy new ones...

 

Can't say I agree with ford power steering having leaks or sloppy steering. But in the interest of simplifying my setup will be switching to electric power steering, removing all the old power steering components, and having less stuff hanging off the engine. Only needs a larger alt to handle the extra electrical load. But that is a simple upgrade.
Ron

 

My PS sys. leaks are vry minimum, so far. I get a little fluid frm the pres side of the pump where the threads are in poor shape. The problem I have is the pump makes a roaring noise and it does quiet some as the fluid gets warm. I had the pump rebuilt, but don't think it is the correct one for my yr "73" vechicle; it looks different frm vechicles of the same yr. It has a large res. cap "abt 1-1/4" dia.", where as all the other cars I see have 1/2" dia. I don't know if that makes any difference. I am tired of listening to the roar/noise on those extended trips.
Anyway, I am considering the Unisteer R&P and just get rid of all the 40yr old stuff. Im like Krazy Comet: "Gettin rid of my PS is not an option.

 

Getting all the connections to seal could be a problem is the seats are deformed from all the years of use. New seats can be ordered to replace all the old ones. Stangerssite.com has all the seals and rebuild kits. I highly recommend them.
When I rebuilt mine I installed all new seats and hoses and literally rebuilt everything including the pump. Never had one single leak. Down the road I plan on removing all the ford hydraulic ps as I will be installing electric power steering. Simpler, no potential leaks and cleans up the engine compartment. One step into the present day.
Ron