Why Should the Power Steering System Be Bled?

Power steering lines need to be bled of excess air in order to function properly.

There is no room in your hydraulic power steering system for air. If you don't bleed your power steering of air, your power steering is almost useless because the system can't compress the air like it would power steering fluid.

Effects

If your steering becomes difficult, or your vehicle makes noise when you steer, there may be air in the power steering system. Making turns or parallel parking will usually make these issues more noticeable.

Causes

Low power steering fluid may be the problem. However, filling the power steering reservoir may only fix the problem temporarily. If there is a leak in the system somewhere, your fluid level will just drop again and the problem will return.

Considerations

If you recently changed any part of the power steering system, such as the pump or pressure hose, you probably want to bleed the system. In most cars, this is an easy process, but you may want to hire a professional.

References

• Auto Media.com: Bleeding Power Steering