09 Tahoe - Flush power steering system

New to me 09 Tahoe, i have been spending some time ensuring that all fluids are fresh before i really start enjoying it.

After transfer case, front and rear axles, transmission fluid and filter, and motor oil, was the brake fluid.
It was very dark!
I wouldn't doubt it was the original fluid.. lol

Flushed until it was clear, and then took it off road to cycle the abs.
Bought all of the brake fluid off of the shelves at my local auto parts store to do the job...
seems the restock trickles in...


Few days ago I noticed that the rear left brake bleed screw was leaking a bit, went to tighten it down but it felt pretty gritty.
Replaced that yesterday to find the same issue with the new bleed screws.
Pulled the caliper so i could force the piston all the way in with the screw removed..

It shot out a ton of crud!
Used my brake line vac tool to suck through fresh fluid, still gritty!
Used brake clean to flush the caliper out, black gritty crud came out!!

All good with the brake bleed screw afterwards.
Did the same to the other rear brake.
Nicely flushed, went through a good pint of fluid.
Found the caliper pins totally dry, so greased up while i was there...

One of my tasks today is to source more brake fluid to finish the job.



That then brings me to the Power Steering Fluid.
Like the brake fluid, I'm pretty sure it's original.

So far i have been sucking the reservoir dry with my vac tool, fresh fluid, run for a bit and then suck it dry again and pour in fresh fluid...

The crud sucked up so far was pretty nasty.
It's looking much better, but this is getting expensive to flush it with the ac delco ps fluid.
Pretty sure I'm already over $60 into the fluid.

What i would love to do is to flush the fluid with the return line disconnected and draining into a pan.

Doing that with the ac delco fluid will get expensive fast.

Is there any other cheaper fluid that i can get away with but won't damage anything like the seals in my currently non leaking rack?

You should have done a flush the right way to start with. According to alldatadiy this will require 4 quarts and at $18 per, this can get expensive. I see PS fluid on Amazon for $18 per gallon. I have no experience with this but it seems that it would be better to have all fresh non-AC Delco fluid in there instead of contaminated AC Delco fluid. Hopefully others with experience using aftermarket PS fluid will chime in. Here's the method specified for a flush from alldatadiy:


Power Steering System Flushing

Important: Do not reuse any drained power steering fluid regardless of appearance or condition.

1. Turn OFF the engine.
2. Raise the front end of the vehicle off the ground until the tires and wheels turn freely. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
3. Place a large container under the fluid return hose in order to collect the draining fluid.
4. Remove the fluid return hose at the power steering pump reservoir inlet connection.
5. Plug the reservoir return hose inlet connection on the power steering pump.

Important: This step may require 4 L (4 qt) of power steering fluid until the draining fluid appears clear.

1. With the key on engine off, turn the steering wheel fully to the left and to the right while an assistant maintains the minimum fluid level in the reservoir using new approved power steering fluid. Continue until the fluid from the return hose runs clear.
2. Remove the plug from the pump reservoir inlet connection and install the fluid return hose to the pump reservoir.

Important: Do NOT run the engine without the power steering fluid at a minimum system level.

1. Bleed the power steering system. Refer to Power Steering System Bleeding (See: Power Steering Bleeding\Service and Repair) .
2. Inspect the power steering fluid for the following indications of contamination:

1. If the fluid is contaminated, repeat steps 2-9.
2. Lower the vehicle and check the Power Steering system for leaks.

Yeah, it occurred to me.
Main issue is that the fluid is pretty bad.
even with a full flush from the start, i might need to repeat 2 or 3 times with some drive time/heat cycles in between flushes.

Just Fishing said:

Yeah, it occurred to me.
Main issue is that the fluid is pretty bad.
even with a full flush from the start, i might need to repeat 2 or 3 times with some drive time/heat cycles in between flushes.

Click to expand...

Mine was pretty bad at 160k and I flushed it until it ran clear fluid out. Good to go. That should be all you need.

As stated above suck it out refill with fresh, start, turn left to right several times. Stop, suck it out, refill, left to right again. I had to do this three times to get to a decent stae of clean. Then I drive for a day or two, then repeat the process till clean fluid. This is only for really dirty neglected trucks. To just change fluid that has been maintained, this takes one flush and your done. Good luck

I have 3 of the larger bottles that arrived today.
Might get to it this weekend, probably next weekend tho.

I got it done today, much easier!


Got nice and warm, took a 3/8in aluminum fuel line piece i had in my scrap box (still had AN fittings on it).
The plan today was to use my new tech 2 and run through the automated ABS bleeding program, so i had it up on jack stands and all 4 wheels off.
(the brake fluid was like a blue milkshake when i bought the truck)

I bent the scrap aluminum line into a shape i liked and shoved it into the return hose, and used a piece of plugged fuel line for the pump side.
Found i could poke the return line through the wheel well, and then into a bucket with my little extension.

I had 4 of those 32oz bottles of acdelco fluid, ran through a good 3 1/2 for good measure.
the fluid looks nice and clear now.

I'll check it in a few weeks to see how the fluid looks, however i think it's safe to call this job done either way.

Just Fishing said:

I got it done today, much easier!


Got nice and warm, took a 3/8in aluminum fuel line piece i had in my scrap box (still had AN fittings on it).
The plan today was to use my new tech 2 and run through the automated ABS bleeding program, so i had it up on jack stands and all 4 wheels off.
(the brake fluid was like a blue milkshake when i bought the truck)

I bent the scrap aluminum line into a shape i liked and shoved it into the return hose, and used a piece of plugged fuel line for the pump side.
Found i could poke the return line through the wheel well, and then into a bucket with my little extension.

I had 4 of those 32oz bottles of acdelco fluid, ran through a good 3 1/2 for good measure.
the fluid looks nice and clear now.

I'll check it in a few weeks to see how the fluid looks, however i think it's safe to call this job done either way.

Click to expand...

Nice job, glad it worked out.