Getting air out of a new steering system?

HotRodpayton · Nov 10, 2009

Ok, started out backwards with hooking my return up wrong. I have a 5 port vavle for potential future rear steer. I was told to take the tank and extra port and tie them into each other for both to return to the pump and not build excess pressure. I got all that right, jacked the front up and spun the wheel lock to lock several time and got alot of air out each time. Cranked her up and did the same. The steering works correctly, but very stiff and trimblely( if that makes any sense) I am guessing with the very very little run time I have on the steering, it still has alot of air. Any suggestions of the best way to work it all out?

CheapJ7 · Nov 10, 2009

not sure.. i had a 5 port valve first, plummed 5th into return.. Never could get it to work right... steering was hard and got super hot... :dunno:

rocfun · Nov 10, 2009

put the front on jackstands if you have not already, it makes the process a lot easier.
when i did mine i turned it lock to lock 5-10 times per side while not running
then did the same thing at idle and has worked great ever since. make sure you use synthetic fluid or at least non foaming in it.

CheapJ7 · Nov 10, 2009

yes.. tires off the ground are a must.. and stnthetic fluid all the way, whatever u end up using...

HotRodpayton · Nov 10, 2009

any one else had experience with a five port valve?

caglezxj · Nov 11, 2009

I used one one time for a buddy's build and the pump would get really hot. He went with a 4 port. I have yet to ask PSC what I need to run rear steer thinking of just using a T and going with a 4 port. I am thinking that the fluid is going to take the easiest route back to the pump with that said when you are turning the valve the 5th port is letting most of your pressure back to the pump. Lance at PSC will answer any question you have even if you didn't make the purchase from them.

Are you cracking the hyd. line going to the cylinder when you turn the wheels? I have done this before and it helps get the air out. Make sure you tighten it back before you turn the other direction or it will suck air into the system.

HotRodpayton · Nov 11, 2009

Ok, sounds like the 5th port is a bad idea. I may have to change to a 4 port.

John Galbreath Jr. · Nov 11, 2009

See 4 port rear steer diagram:

http://www.howeperformance.com/pdfs/rockcrawlrearsteer.pdf

wizzo · Nov 11, 2009

psc's bleeding instructions http://www.pscmotorsports.com/tech/bleeding.pdf

i followed these and seemed to get the air out fairly quickly.

MJP · Nov 11, 2009

Ive used a 5 port before and had no issues, on the 5th port I ran it to a cooler/holding tank with an outlet to the return. this added volume to the system which made things run cooler.

The last setup I did on my buggy (4 port) I hooked it up all wrong! with our getting online and reading the instructions I assumed P&R stood for pressure and return, so I hooked it up that way thinking the most I would have to do is swap the ram ends if I was wrong. This was a bad assumption, it steered right and left but if you let off the wheel it would drift right very quickly and it was jerky while steering. A buddy just happened to stop by while I was messing with it and says "I had that happen once, try this" everyone of my lines was plugged into the wrong ports. After swapping them around everything works great.

Good Luck,

There is always little crap that makes you want to scream, my latest is my starter and flex plate both got ate up this last ride. Looks like I may of had the wrong number of teeth on the flex plate, this will cause a mess. Now I have to pull half the buggy back apart to fix this little screw up.

HotRodpayton · Nov 11, 2009

Ouch, YEAH I know about screw ups. Burnt the pump up this afternoon. Got a new steering orbital from POS today(4 port with hook up dio.) and new chevy pump. Hooken it up tommorrow night.