Does it moan and groan? Or did it before quiting?

The early steering box will accumulate air that can't be bleed like later units. Those only require stop to stop turning a couple times.

Your 4.5 has a bleeder on the steering box available from the top. I use a 11mm on a long extention and crack it loose. I watch the bleeder and the reservoir. If your problem is air you will probably use up the whole resrvoir of fluid before fluid comes from the bleeder.

Once fluid comes from the bleeder, close it and start the car and turn stop to stop. Let is sit a few minutes with the engine off and do the bleeding again.

If you really wish to do a good job take a piece of rubber vacuum line with about 3-4feet of hard vacuum door lock plastic line. Couple the hard line to the bleeder with the rubber section. Open the bleeder and start the engine DON"T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. Place the other end of the hard plastic line into the reservoir and watch the bubbles. Once the bubbles are gone close the bleeder.

Fix the hoses first and replace the filter in the reservoir. Plugged filters and porous lines allow air to be sucked into the system.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician