How to bleed power steering pump!

[Nima]

Any tips as to how to bleed power steering pump?
I have replaced the pump on my Nova and I thought I know how to bleed it since I have replaced the pump on my other car/trucks but this one is giving me hard time. I changed the pump, filled the pump, car is on the lift so I turned the wheel lock to lock (engine off) 7-8 times, got some bubbles, added fluid and started the car and it whined like crazy. Stopped the engine and did the procedure again, the same story. I turned the wheel few times with the engine running after few series of engine being off, no luck.
I have done this now over 10 times and still the fluid is frothy and pump whines when the engine is started. I have tightened the hose clamps for the return line just in case it sucks air from somewhere although I didn't have any leaks.
Any tips?
Thanks

[The Rocknrod]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...2&postcount=10

[franken]

I've replaced the pump, box and hoses (they say do all at once) on the truck and the Camaro. Both times I just ran lock to lock a few times with the tires on the ground, filled the res and had no issues.
I've read other posts where people had trouble so my sympathies.

[Nima]

Thanks guys. That is what I have been doing. It seems there are more air in the steering gear box. Is there a way to flush that? Like flushing a hydroboost?!

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Nima

Thanks guys. That is what I have been doing. It seems there are more air in the steering gear box. Is there a way to flush that? Like flushing a hydroboost?!

Just a thought.
Check the valve in the pump. Make sure it's in the right way. It could be stopped up from junk in the pump from making it. Are something in the hose sucked up in it.

[Nima]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Just a thought.
Check the valve in the pump. Make sure it's in the right way. It could be stopped up from junk in the pump from making it. Are something in the hose sucked up in it.

Would you explain what you mean and how to check the valve? The pump is a new (remanufactured) Cardon pump and I have replaced all the hoses.
Thanks.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Nima

Would you explain what you mean and how to check the valve? The pump is a new (remanufactured) Cardon pump and I have replaced all the hoses.
Thanks.

Back side where high pressure hose connects. Looks like a nut after you take the hose out. Take the nut loose and that is the valve for the pump. There is a spring inside so don't let it fly out. Make sure it's not clogged up with shavings are other stuff.
Look at it close and put it back in in the same orientation as you took it out.

[Nick_R_23]

If you have a MityVac, you can apply vacuum to the reservoir and that will help in a lot of cases.

[68C15]

Cardone? That explains it right there

[Nima]

So, this is an update:
I had an stock power steering pump from my other LS swap which came with the donor engine. I swap this noisy rebuild Cardone with that one. I went through bleeding process (turn the wheel after installation before starting the engine,...). When I started the engine, there was no sound and I was happy. I turned the wheels few times lock to lock, got few more smaller bubbles but still no sound but as I took the car for the test drive, the sound reappeared and it seems the sound got worse as I was depressing the brake pedal ( I have a hydroboost set up: Power steering, hydroboost and the gear box). So, I took the return hose off of the hydroboost again and flushed the hydroboost but still I have the noise.
Can a bad gear box or hydroboost be a factor? Gear box is original to the car (1972) and the Hydroboost is used one (late 80s chevy van).
I am just confused at this point since I have changed all these different parts on many different cars/truck in the past with no such issue!
Thanks

[Greasey Harley]

Had some trouble bleeding a PS system once.
I was back and forth, lock-to-lock with the wheels in the air, for like an hour. Just kept getting bubbles.

Someone told me to turn full-lock right and note where the steering wheel stops, then full-lock left, again noting the steering wheel position.

Once you know where the steering locks, turn the wheel back and forth, stopping just short of wheel lock both directions, and never hitting the locks.

The theory was that hitting the lock causes cavitation in the already frothy fluid.

I don't know, but it worked for me, and I had that system bled 10 minutes later.

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Nima

So, this is an update:
I had an stock power steering pump from my other LS swap which came with the donor engine. I swap this noisy rebuild Cardone with that one. I went through bleeding process (turn the wheel after installation before starting the engine,...). When I started the engine, there was no sound and I was happy. I turned the wheels few times lock to lock, got few more smaller bubbles but still no sound but as I took the car for the test drive, the sound reappeared and it seems the sound got worse as I was depressing the brake pedal ( I have a hydroboost set up: Power steering, hydroboost and the gear box). So, I took the return hose off of the hydroboost again and flushed the hydroboost but still I have the noise.
Can a bad gear box or hydroboost be a factor? Gear box is original to the car (1972) and the Hydroboost is used one (late 80s chevy van).
I am just confused at this point since I have changed all these different parts on many different cars/truck in the past with no such issue!
Thanks

I have not had to work on one for a while, bit it sounds like there is something wrong in the power boost or in it's hook up. Your air leak into the system seems to be coming from the brakes side.

[Nima]

Thanks for the replies. I will try to bleed it again as it is suggested by Greasey H.
If I had air leak somewhere, shouldn't I have fluid leak too?

[mongocanfly]

could you get a pic of how you have it all plumbed?
ive changed pump and hb on mine...never had the issues your having

[Nima]

This is how I did it. I did my 79 Camaro the same with no issue a year ago.

[mongocanfly]

That's ok....I'm not sure what you got going on

[Nima]

Fixed, finally!!
I am just posting this hopefully help somebody else since you have helped me when I need it. Thank you.
So, the problem was the return lines! There are two types of power steering pumps, one with one return line which is for the cars/trucks with vacuum brake boosters and then there is one with two return lines for the cars/trucks with Hydroboost brake system. I got the two line pump since I converted to Hydroboost and I just didn't want to use a "T" on one return line. On the pumps with two return lines, the return line from the gear box which has a constant low pressure but high flow of the power steering fluid connects at the pump's gear level (or maybe even below the gears) of the power steering pump and the line from Hydroboost connects to the pump above the gears, this line has a lot less volume. Anyways, I connected my return line to the power steering pump in a wrong way. I connected the gearbox to the upper return line and the Hyrodboost to the lower one. This was causing the power steering box to ran out of fluid around the gears and as such air would get mixed with the fluid since the line from the gear box (the higher flow one) was dumping the fluid on the top of the gears in the power steering pump. It was causing cavitation and the noise. I hope this makes sense.
Cheers

[Palf70Step]

Glad you got it fixed. I have heard that getting lines wrong would cause the brakes to not work worth a darn, but never heard of your issue. One for the memory banks. Glad you are working.

[Rickysnickers]

Glad you got it worked out!