Excessive power steering whine?

[wjcollier07]

Nailing most the stuff down on the SSE now. Been driving fine for nearly 100 miles since the ignition problem...front brakes now good, still need to do rear wheel cylinders, fixed side mirror controls, installed haro's sunroof switch and bezel (thanks andrew!), fuel filter, air filter, PCV, Pennzoil platinum & a mobil1 filter, clean MAF, new trans filter, and a solid seafoaming of the crankcase, intake, and transmission...now to check one more thing off the list.

The excess noise the power steering is making is more than just irritating, it's downright obnoxious. Obviously, I've checked the fluid, and while slightly aged, it doesn't seem to be foaming, low, or of any strange color or smell for PS fluid. A friend of mine (a technician at our shop), was speculating that there might be air in the system, and to bleed it would stop the whining. While I'm completely open to the IDEA of bleeding it..I really didn't want to delve into the L36's horrible power steering pump location without consulting the powers that be on our forum. I've got alldata available, and my FSMs are FINALLY on their way (got sent to the wrong person...in Oregon ), but I figured I'd consult the application specific knowledge available here.

What is the procedure for 'bleeding' the power steering system? Would this procedure help my noise issue in any way? Am I probably looking at a new pump? Steering feel is relatively good (compared to my just recent drive of Brad's 97 with magnasteer)...so just looking for insight on the whole thing. I was thinking about pulling some fluid out and putting some seafoam in there to loosen up any varnish and such and flush it out with the opportunity..but sort of need to know if I'm replacing the pump while I'm there.

[sandrock]

Bleeding is easy. Pop off the fluid cap, and turn the wheel about 15-20 times lock-to-lock.

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

I'll assume it's with the engine at idle and in park Sandrock?

[ChilinMichael]

I drained my fluid last year and replaced with AMSOIL Power Steering Fluid (Synthetic)...did a decent amount of noise reduction when it was VERY noisy (especially in cold temps).

[irish91983]

Im having the same probelm..mine is very loud at times. I have also been looking for problem fixes for this.. If i find anything i will also post it up.

[sandrock]

I'll assume it's with the engine at idle and in park Sandrock?

Yeah. Sorry I should have posted that...it was oh-dark-thirty when I replied

[1fatcat]

I'll assume it's with the engine at idle and in park Sandrock?

Yeah. Sorry I should have posted that...it was oh-dark-thirty when I replied

I always bleed the system with the engine off and the front wheels in the air. Block the front end up to take the weight off. This will make bleeding MUCH easier and save on your tires. The system will still circulate the fluid without the engine running, you essentually become the pump by manually cycling the steering rack lock to lock. Make about 1 turn per second, stop and hold for 10 seconds at every lock. Do this about 5 times each direction. Make sure fluid is full before and after procedure. Leave P/S resevoir cap off during procedure.

Did you know that ATF has been used from the factory on P/S systems by a few manufacturers? Honda and Ford are two of them. The ATF does not cavitate or foam as easily as P/S fluid, making for a quieter opperating system. And from what I have seen, a longer service life.

[zuper8]

all 5 of my bonnevilles had some power steering noise, even when i knew the pumps were not malfunctioning or bad. i always put in lucas power steering stop leak, each time it has brought the whine down to an almost imperceptible level.

[Jrs3800]

My 95 Bonneville has power steering whine... The 03 SLE doesn't, The 91 didn't either... On the van I used a GP pump... Its quiet too.. I think the pump on my 95 is tired... But its always made some noise.. At 183,000 it still had the exact same whine..

[bobfather99]

all 5 of my bonnevilles had some power steering noise, even when i knew the pumps were not malfunctioning or bad. i always put in lucas power steering stop leak, each time it has brought the whine down to an almost imperceptible level.

I also used the Lucas power steering additive. Its a little thick, but works at keeping the leaks/noise down.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

I used semi-synthetic ATF. No noise unless it's at lock.

[alec_b]

My '96 always had a whine to it @206k. I always figured it was just a tired pump and did nothing to try and solve it because I didn't care.

I have had much better luck at noise control using ATF over P/S fluid. Also seems to smooth the power steering out a lot too. If you have P/S fluid in it now, you can flush it out with ATF and just use that from now on.

[wjcollier07]

Sounds like a plan. I think I'll put some Dex VI in there with some lucas power steering stuff after seafoaming it...and maybe I'll have a lifetime of a quiet pump! Wouldn't that be nice.

Oh..yeah..and I did the 'bleed' procedure, idling, lock to lock about 10 times...it quieted a LITTLE...but nothing too significant. It whines significantly more when turning left than right...for some odd reason. But yeah, I'll exhaust my options with the ATF and see where I stand.

Thanks SO much for the responses guys (and Rachael)

[1fatcat]

Oh..yeah..and I did the 'bleed' procedure, idling, lock to lock about 10 times.

Did you try with the engine off and the front of the car jacked up off the ground?

[wjcollier07]

Not yet. I will though. It was 3 AM when I did that last attempt at a bleed..right after I'd just gotten done with my wheel cylinders, right after getting off a 10 hour shift at work. Sticking the jack under the other side of the car, just after lowering it...wasn't exactly on my agenda.

The steering is either growing on me...or its slightly quieter after the bleed...because I'm hearing more engine than whine today. Can't wait to do the ATF swap on it though..I'm hoping that's going to take care of most of it.

[wake]

Did you know that ATF has been used from the factory on P/S systems by a few manufacturers? Honda and Ford are two of them. The ATF does not cavitate or foam as easily as P/S fluid, making for a quieter opperating system. And from what I have seen, a longer service life.

true statement..actually with all of my vehicles if theyve ever been low or ive had the chance to flush them..i usually refill with the trans fluid recommended with the vehicle

bmx and mercedes were also a few who used tranny fluid in ps pumps from the factory..not only does it not foam as fast it does last longer and runs a little colder that standard fluid and the true reason and benefit of doing this..it causes the pump to turn easier thus making less drag and your steering is easier to turn

dont believe me? try it

[Bugsi]

FWIW, the only way I've ever gotten completely rid of power steering pump noise was to replace the pump.
And even then I've had a remanufactured pump from the dealer be bad from the get-go, so sometimes you have to replace the pump you just replaced to make sure you got a good one. I've seen that happen with other people too, getting a bum pump. So, you've been alerted.

[Jrs3800]

I tend to get the pumps from the newest 3800 I can find...lol... so far they have all been quiet

[londonontman]

Did you know that ATF has been used from the factory on P/S systems by a few manufacturers? Honda and Ford are two of them. The ATF does not cavitate or foam as easily as P/S fluid, making for a quieter opperating system. And from what I have seen, a longer service life.

true statement..actually with all of my vehicles if theyve ever been low or ive had the chance to flush them..i usually refill with the trans fluid recommended with the vehicle

bmx and mercedes were also a few who used tranny fluid in ps pumps from the factory..not only does it not foam as fast it does last longer and runs a little colder that standard fluid and the true reason and benefit of doing this..it causes the pump to turn easier thus making less drag and your steering is easier to turn

dont believe me? try it

I think you will find that over 80% of current cars use ATF of one form or another in P/S. Ford uses both Type-F and Dex III. The only exception is VW-Audi. Some of there vehicles use a mineral oil. BTW...I didnt know that BMX made cars...LOLOL. GM uses both P/S fluid and ATF now.

[wake]

some times i type fast and the computer cant keep up thanks for catching it..

i meant BMW as im sure you all knew