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Topic: Power Steering Flush '88 T-Bird 3.8 (Read 646 times) previous topic - next topic

Power Steering Flush '88 T-Bird 3.8

After 8+ years, It was again time to flush the power steering today on 2 Fords.  The T-Bird is a slight pain because I have to jack it up a little to work under it for this.  I suck the fluid out of the reservoir and disable the fuel pump.  Disconnect the return line on the reservoir (another effort) and plug the reservoir outlet with a pinched hose.  Then cranking the engine a couple seconds at a time to replenish the reservoir...with new fluid---until flushed.

Today I discovered something I have missed all these years.  The return line was resting against the Stabilizer bar.....and you guessed it, the rub caused a nice wear spot on the hose--right down to the threads in the hose.  Not much more wear needed for a line rupture?  I replaced the return line and rerouted it slightly.  This was an original line and I am surprised I had not seen this in past years, but the appearance is deceptive.  If you have a V-6, you may want to check that return steering hose.  My understanding is fluid spraying on a hot engine could have a bad outcome--possibly a fire?

JR