Power Steering Fill, Flush?

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2013/11/18 20:41:33

OK, I didn't get much of a response on the postwar thread about this, but then there are fewer pre-'55 Packards with power steering. I'm hoping that the greater number who have experience with V8s also have more of the lowdown on power steering.

My '54 shop manual says to fill the power steering reservoir with "Type A" transmission fluid. So far, so good.

My question is, should the system ever be drained or flushed? I've got about 80K on the car, and the P.S. has probably never been touched.

There is a big canister for fluid that sits on top of the pump, and I think it says Purolator on it--for all the world as though it contained an oil filter (the engine itself doesn't have an oil filter).

I see nothing in the manual about a P.S. filter. If there's no filter to change, is there a screen that could be cleaned?

Thanks.