Still Groaning after PS fluid change

[joshhol]

Hello,

Drained the PS fluid by the turkey baster method as well as draining the steering gear box by dropping the plug and turning the wheels back and forth several, several times with the wheels elevated.
After adding new fluid and turning the wheel lock to lock many more times (wheels elevated) and thinking it's "bled", still having groaning from steering.

Any tips? This is RE the 115 76 300D

Thanks

[cooljjay]

Was the car running, when you were turning the wheel?

When you drain the fluid, all you need to do....is remove the plug, turn to the right and it all dumps out....refil....start the car and drive...

[joshhol]

Car was running when "bled" the system.

When I drained it, I turned the wheels both directions several times as I saw that fluid was still there to be removed. Must have a stubborn air pocket.

[Larry Delor]

Hopefully it is not a creaky linkage or balljoint, and all that work was for nothing. Try jacking one wheel, and then turn the steering wheel to see if it still creaks.

BTW... Why did you get rid of the TDI?

[cooljjay]

If you had the car running while draining it, you most likely messed up the gear box or pump....never a wise idea to run it with out any fluid to lube the system.

[joshhol]

Did not run it while draining, of course!
Its definitely not a ball joint, the sound began immediately after the fluid change.

Larry, I loved that Jetta! Did not want to trade it but I got tired of wedging my string bass into the sedan, so I got the wagon. Costly mistake not getting one in the first place.

[Squiggle Dog]

Some power steering pumps are not self-bleeding. Some require bleeding. The power steering pump on my roommate's 1965 220S is this way. There is a bleed nipple on the power steering box, and I had to fit a piece of tube on it and route it back to the reservoir.

[joshhol]

If what I'm understanding is correct, the 76 115 has the LS 90 Power Steering system. Looking at it in the FSM, that looks like mine. The LS 75 has mention of a bleed screw but not on the 90, nor do I see anything like it on the box.
Also, the FSM says the LS 90 is self venting.

Ah well, I'll jack it up again and give it some more turns. Maybe it needs to be level like on a lift. . .

Re-sealing steering box/pump for 115

Old post by Nachi11744. I remember that guy always knew a ton, haven't seen him on here in a while.

[Mike D]

Double check the frame rail and also the sub-frame bushings. Lifting the car one side at a time can cause old bushings to "tweak" and make all kinds of groaning/creaking noises as the body shifts during turns and the opposing forces generated by the gearbox and suspension components.

Does the car seem to "wander" or follow grooves in the road?

[tram]

Originally Posted by joshhol

If what I'm understanding is correct, the 76 115 has the LS 90 Power Steering system. Looking at it in the FSM, that looks like mine. The LS 75 has mention of a bleed screw but not on the 90, nor do I see anything like it on the box.
Also, the FSM says the LS 90 is self venting.

Ah well, I'll jack it up again and give it some more turns. Maybe it needs to be level like on a lift. . .

Re-sealing steering box/pump for 115

Old post by Nachi11744. I remember that guy always knew a ton, haven't seen him on here in a while.

In my experience, all P/S boxes at least thru W123/ 126 need to be bled if replaced or run empty. If there's a bleeder screw on top, it needs to be bled.

[uberwasser]

In my experience, the W123 steering box bleeds fine by filling the reservoir and turning the wheel with the engine off, front end jacked up. Just keep topping it off until the level doesn't drop anymore and keep turning until the bubbles stop.

This experience has been the same whether just emptying and refilling the reservoir, all the way to replacing the unit with a reman box.

[joshhol]

Seems like a short romp at highway speeds helped out a lot. Had to have enough pump pressure I suppose.

[KCM]

What type of fluid did you use? I used ATF fluid one time and the steering started groaning. Drained and replaced with a dedicated "power steering fluid" and the groan disappeared.

[Squiggle Dog]

Also, if your hoses are seeping at all, it means they are probably drawing in air, which will cause noise. I assume you replaced the filter, as these can clog and strain the pump.

[joshhol]

Replaced the filter and used Febi PS fluid from Pelican. Think I redid the hoses when I had the box and pump resealed back when I did the front end. Been a while since then.
But looks like the highway speeds took care of it.