Complete flush and replacement of power steering fluid in the 1966 Corvette's Saginaw power steering system to maintain hydraulic performance and prevent component wear.

Warnings

Tools required

Fluids

• GM Power Steering Fluid — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake.
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels.
3. Allow engine to cool completely if recently operated.
4. Ensure adequate ventilation in work area.

Procedure

1. 1

   Access power steering reservoir
   Open hood and locate the power steering reservoir on the driver's side of the engine compartment, mounted on the power steering pump near the front of the engine. The reservoir is a cylindrical metal canister with a threaded cap.
2. 2

   Remove old fluid from reservoir
   Remove the reservoir cap by turning counterclockwise. Use a turkey baster or fluid transfer pump to extract as much old fluid as possible from the reservoir. Transfer the old fluid to a drain pan. Continue extracting until the reservoir is as empty as possible.
3. 3

   Raise front of vehicle
   Lift the front of the vehicle using a jack and support securely on jack stands under the frame rails. The front wheels must be off the ground to allow free steering rotation during the flushing process.
4. 4

   Fill reservoir with fresh fluid
   Pour fresh GM-approved power steering fluid (or equivalent meeting GM spec for this application) into the reservoir until it reaches the FULL mark on the dipstick attached to the cap. Do not overfill. Do not overfill.
5. 5

   Cycle steering lock-to-lock
   Without starting the engine, turn the steering wheel slowly from full left lock to full right lock 10 complete cycles. This displaces old fluid from the steering gear and hoses into the reservoir. The fluid level will drop as fresh fluid fills the system.
6. 6

   Extract contaminated fluid
   Use the turkey baster to remove the now-contaminated fluid from the reservoir. The fluid will appear darker than the fresh fluid. Extract as much as possible and transfer to the drain pan.
7. 7

   Refill and repeat cycling process
   Refill the reservoir with fresh fluid to the FULL mark. Turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock another 10 complete cycles without starting the engine. Check the fluid color in the reservoir.
8. 8

   Perform final extraction and fill
   Extract the fluid one final time using the turkey baster. Refill the reservoir with fresh GM Power Steering Fluid to the FULL mark. If the extracted fluid still appears significantly contaminated, repeat steps 7 and 8 one additional time.
9. 9

   Start engine and bleed air
   Start the engine and allow it to idle. Turn the steering wheel slowly from lock-to-lock 5 times while the engine is running. Check for any foaming or bubbling in the reservoir, which indicates air in the system. If foaming occurs, shut off the engine, allow the fluid to settle for several minutes, then repeat the lock-to-lock cycling until the foaming clears.
10. 10

    Check fluid level and top off
    With the engine running and at operating temperature, check the fluid level. Add fluid as necessary to bring the level to the FULL mark. The system will have circulated fluid through all components and the level may have dropped slightly.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle and final check
    Shut off the engine. Lower the vehicle from the jack stands and remove the jack. With the engine off, verify the fluid level is at the FULL mark. Install the reservoir cap securely by turning clockwise until snug.

Reassembly

1. Ensure reservoir cap is tightened securely to prevent leaks and contamination.
2. Wipe down the reservoir and surrounding area to remove any spilled fluid.
3. Dispose of used power steering fluid according to local regulations.

Verification

• Start the engine and verify smooth power steering operation with no noise or binding.
• Check for leaks around the reservoir, pump, hoses, and steering gear.
• Verify fluid level remains at FULL mark after test drive.
• Confirm steering wheel returns to center smoothly after turns.
• Listen for any whining or groaning noises from the pump, which would indicate air in the system or low fluid level.

More procedures for this vehicle