LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

[nwilson44]

I replaced my steering rack with the LS1 ratio rack and I am pretty happy with it. I just found the problem with my whining pump and Its a leaky power steering hose. No one had it in stock so I just replaced the fluid that i drained with pike power steering fluid. Well that fluid i used was very light colored and the fluid that I drained out was very dark, almost purple. The dealer put whatever fluid that was in it, and I am trying to figure out what that fluid was because now that I have this lighter stuff in it, the steering wheel is all loose feeling as opposed to tight like it was. I am going to replace the hose and pump tomorrow, but I need to know what fluid to put in it to get that tight feeling back. any ideas?

[Blizzard242]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

How loose are we talking? I have 2 cars, 1 has a good power steering pump and 1 has a pump that's on it's way out. The good power steering pump's steering is much lighter than the car with the bad pump. In your case, replacing the fluid may have made the power steering system start working as it was supposed to, since the old fluid could have degraded and lost it's viscosity and gave it that tighter feel. Or you may just need an alignment.

[CFreed11]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

If you were leaking fluid, then the "tight" feeling you had was probably more of a manual steering feel due to the lack of fluid. Just remove power steering all together if you want that tight feeling again.

[nwilson44]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

I had a leaky hose that I am about to go outside and change. Its the one that runs from the reservoir to the rack. I changed the fluid that the dealer put in there to regular power steering fluid and it uses less effort, than it did before I changed it. Our cars call for ATF and not power steering fluid come to find out but i am not sure if that causes the difference or not.

[Blizzard242]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

Straight from the manual, our cars call for:

GM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. 1052884 - 1 pint,
1050017 - 1 quart, or equivalent).

Doesn't sound like ATF to me. Who told you that?

[nwilson44]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

Straight from the manual, our cars call for:

GM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. 1052884 - 1 pint,
1050017 - 1 quart, or equivalent).

Doesn't sound like ATF to me. Who told you that?

AMS oil website and all of the auto part stores I've been to told me that. My pump is still whining after I changed the last leaky hose. Do I need to change my pump again?

[Blizzard242]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

It's up to you. My bad pump sounds normal when I'm going straight, but if I have a larger radius turn, it sounds like a super charger. I like it. However, it tracks to the grooves in the road more and I really have to hold onto the wheel to keep it straight. It's not a completely relaxed drive but the car is turbo'd so it's still really fun. I'm changing mine when I get around to it, I have the pump, but I'm not looking forward to the job since my turbo pipes are in the way. What I'm trying to say is, change it if it's bugging you.

[nwilson44]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

It's up to you. My bad pump sounds normal when I'm going straight, but if I have a larger radius turn, it sounds like a super charger. I like it. However, it tracks to the grooves in the road more and I really have to hold onto the wheel to keep it straight. It's not a completely relaxed drive but the car is turbo'd so it's still really fun. I'm changing mine when I get around to it, I have the pump, but I'm not looking forward to the job since my turbo pipes are in the way. What I'm trying to say is, change it if it's bugging you.

I am going to, I just dont know the proper procedure. I am not sure if I have to bleed it like brakes or if I just bolt it up and pour fluid in it.

[Blizzard242]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

It's easy. You will need a pulley removal/install tool and basic tools. Remove the belt, remove the res cap, undo the hoses, pull off the pump, transfer the pulley from the old to new pump, bolt in the new pump, reinstall the hoses, reinstall the belt, fill the resevoir, start the car, refill the res, turn the the wheel from lock to lock a few times and add more fluid if you need, reinstall the res cap. Turning the wheel all the way left and right a few times is how you bleed the system.

It's all pretty straight forward.

[nwilson44]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

Okay that is pretty close to what I did last time. I just had leaky hoses last time so it started whining and never stopped. So If I do the same thing again it shouldn't whine anymore since I changed my hoses?

[Blizzard242]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

Well, since your pump is whining it may have a bit of metal residue it could have put through the hoses, so just as a precaution, take the extra step to run a little bit of fluid through the reservoir and hoses while the pump is off to flush any of that out. I really don't think a new pump and hoses should have any reason to whine after that until they age. There really might not be any at all though so it's just a precaution.

[nwilson44]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

Okay sweet! thanks for the help. I replaced the rack too, so that should be good as well. I hope this gets it to stop.

[Blizzard242]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

If replacing the pump doesn't stop it, something else is making a noise. Good luck!

[nwilson44]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

Thanks, that took care of the noise!!!! now time to address this exhaust leak with some pacesetters and universal cat.

[Blizzard242]

Re: LS1 Steering Rack Fluid?

Glad I could help. Those pacesetters will make your car sound much better. Not so whiney/4 bangerish.. Good luck with that install!