My power steering was a bit yellow and foamy when I got the car. I have flushed it a few times and it was gotten alot clearer( but still retaining a slight yellow color). I took off the stock PS cooler and bypassed it. It still feels heavy when turning. Does anyone have any idea what it could be?

 

flush..flush...and flush some MORE...........or get a new pump

 

It started making a squealing noise, its pretty strong while its warming up but goes away after the car is warm. I noticed it gets louder when I turn steering wheel.

 

I didn't have quite the problems you are describing, but I did have some slight squealing when turning the wheel. Someone on this board recommended putting in Redline synthetic power steering fluid. I removed as much as I could from the reservoir using a turkey baster, and filled with redline, ran the car and turned the steering wheel all the way back and forth, shut the car off, then repeated a couple times until the fluid was bright red. I have not had a problem with noise from the PS pump since.

 

How would you completely flush the PS fluid? I tried pumping it out but I can never get all of it out and it still look kind of yellow.

 

I would think you could detach the return line on the pump but the system is pretty high pressure. Hopefully someone else here will chime in, because I have always done it the way I described and not had a problem.

 

The return line is the left hose under the resevoir right? And to flush I should keep adding more fluid? Thanks I really appreciate the help.

 

I'd have to double check on which line is which, but you can use this procedure to flush the power steering:

POWER STEERING FLUSH

-remove PS cap
-remove return line and start engine. let drain
-pour PS fluid into reservoir at same rate it is draining
-at the same time, have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times
-once drainage looks like new fluid (probably 3 bottles wasted) stop engine
-let draining complete and re-attach return line.
-fill reservoir to proper level and run engine with cap off
-have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times to "burp" air out of PS system
-close cap
-DONE

Hope that helps.

 

Do you still have foam in your fluid? The only source of that is air in the pump. Unless you are bleeding the system, this should not happen unless your pump is bad. (The seals can be worn and sucking in air.)

 

It was was very foamy ( vanilla looking smoothie juice lol) but I tried sucking the fluid out a few times until it got rather yellow clearish. The car had the power steering cooling unit before and now I bypassed it. But the power steering pump may be going bad. Its rather harder to move the steering wheel than other camaros I've driven. Recently, a squeaking noise started. It sounds like a pulley or the belt. I dont know if that is somehow related to the ps pump issue.

Thanks for the info loyolacub68. I just need to see which is the return line and do what you said!

 

The noise is probably the pump gone bad. If the shaft seals went out, letting in air, the fluid won't behave properly - leading to the poor steering feel and additional wear on the pump.

 

What pump do you guys recommend? SOmething that doesn't go out all the time lol plz

 

I sent mine to TurnOne to be rebuilt. In addition to racing/performance pumps, they will also do an OEM rebuild, if requested.

They did an OEM rebuild for me and so far so good. You'll pay a little extra money for the service, but you'll be sure its done right and you'll know better where the original parts have been previously.

 

does anyone know which is the return line on the power steering pump?

 

The return line is on the lower right side of the reservoir (which sits on top of the pump) and is held in place with a hose clamp. The pressure line is on the left side and uses a fitting to connect to the pump (not the reservoir).

 

Can the bad pump and yellow ps fluid ruin my ps gear too?