Hey yall, looking for some opinions on my steering situation.
A few months ago i purchased a new gear box and pump from AGR through summit racing. Reviews were not making the products look too hot but i decided to chance it. My box was leaking and had some slop and i wanted to replace the pump with a high pressure one to accommodate the new boxes 12:1 ratio and have extra pressure to support a big cooler, filter and Hydroboost that i was planning on for my build.

Part #s
AGR-283152 POWER STEERING BOX 1
AGR-807256 POWER STEERING PUMP

Now for the story:
I finally got around to installing the parts after they sat in my room for 3 months. Also put on a new high pressure house and new O rings where needed. Bled the system (wheels in the air, turning side to side a few times, start vehicle to top off system, pump lost enough that it started whining, but engine was shut off 1 second after that, so no damage should have occured to the pump) then for 2 nights in a row 8 hours each night, i was trying to bleed the rest of the air out, turns out what i thought was super tiny air bubbles was actually metal in the fluid, pump would not work at all and would actually fight me when wheels were on the ground. Wheels in the air they would turn but there was still some resistance. I figured the pump was shot and didn't have high expectations for it in the first place considering all the bad reviews. I replaced the AGR pump with a remanufactured one from Oreilys. Then i spent one hour bleeding the system before i started the motor and there were still bubbles coming out after i started the engine. I figured a few small bubbles in the system wouldn't be a problem after all the research i did on where the system would force the rest of the air out over time. When i went to test drive the steering felt good but extremely tight. I read that brand new boxes can take anywhere between 300-500 miles before they loosen up a little bit. So would my tight steering be the box is too tight, there is still air in the system, or my new remanufactured pump is also bad? Also, turning to the left takes a little more effort than turning to the right.

Any ideas on whats going on?

 

Welcome to the club. I'm on my second Redhead and third pump. Started the process in 2016. Still bleeding, adjusting, flushing, and worrying. Keep jacking it up and turning with the engine off. Slow down so air can move like 2 seconds per turn. Let it sit over night with the cap off. Be sure to use PS fluid and NOT ATF.

Keep at it. My second Redhead had zero power or return for about a year. I know, it's beyond frustrating.

 

Well damn, i hope i dont get it that bad, tight steering on a race truck is no bueno. I am using regular PS fluid as well

 

The metal in the system probably wrecked the new pump. Could also be plugging a port in the box if the pieces are big enough.

 

The metal is so small it just turns the PS fluid shiny and silver, no actual pieces. Im really hoping the box isnt bad too.
But over the next few days/weeks im going to continuesly try to purge the air and also siphon out the fluid until theres no more metal.

 

Flush the box, if there is metal in there, it'll trash the box right quick.

 

How do i flush just the box?

 

Disconnect the return line from the pump, fill the reservoir, and try turning the wheel with engine off. I *think* that will blow fluid thru the steering box. I don't recommend trying it with the engine running, as the pump can empty the reservoir in a short second. (don't ask me how I know that......)

 

ill have to give that a shot, if after all this, the air is gone and the steering is still too tight, ill call up AGR (if they even answer) and see what they recommend

 

Stick a strong magnet to the side of the reservoir, where you can reach the accumulated debris.