Question regarding 355 Power Steering drain/refill | FerrariChat
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Question regarding 355 Power Steering drain/refill

Discussion in '348/355' started by SeattleM5, Mar 1, 2016.

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  1. SeattleM5

    SeattleM5 Formula 3
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    Jul 9, 2006
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    Ettore Palazzo
    #1 SeattleM5, Mar 1, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Friends, I'm just finishing up the fluid swap on this "new to me" 355 and the last area that needs attention is the power steering fluid. I did my best to research the topic and found many helpful posts about changing the old reservoirs out, what type of fluid to use, capacities, etc. But no real description of how to drain the system. Unless I completely missed it, there's no real attention paid to this in the three volume workshop manual and the owner's manual only mentions how to "top up" the system. Looking at the power steering diagrams I assume I pick the lowest point and drain from there?
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  2. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    #2 INTMD8, Mar 1, 2016
    I used a vacuum brake bleeder to pull everything out of the reservoir. (And did not drain the lines)
     
  3. SeattleM5

    SeattleM5 Formula 3
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    #3 SeattleM5, Mar 1, 2016
    Thanks James, I thought about doing that then noticed that the listed capacity for the power steering fluid is 1.6L. I'm not sure what volume of fluid the PS fluid reservoir holds but it seems to me that it can't be much more than half a liter thus leaving 2/3 or so of the old fluid behind.
     
  4. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    #4 INTMD8, Mar 1, 2016
    Yes you would be leaving some fluid behind. What I removed looked like new so I wasn't entirely concerned with getting it all changed out.

    If I was I would probably still just draw it out, run it, cycle the rack and draw it out again before opening the lines.
     
  5. Markphd

    Markphd Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2012
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    #5 Markphd, Mar 2, 2016
    Another method would be to block the drain, fill the reservoir with new fluid, then divert the drain hose to a catch pan in order to flush the rack. This would ensure that the rack was purged of fluid, much like flushing a transmission.
     
  6. SeattleM5

    SeattleM5 Formula 3
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    #6 SeattleM5, Mar 2, 2016
    I like that idea Mark. That's how I do it on my M5 but the PS fluid reservoir and hoses are so much easer to get to on that car compared to the 355.
     
  7. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #7 Rifledriver, Mar 2, 2016
    Suck the reservoir out then loosen and drain lines under car as pictured. Fill reservoir and cycle steering back and forth topping up reservoir. Try and get all the air out by doing that prior to start or it will foam everything and that will take a little effort to get rid of.
     
  8. SeattleM5

    SeattleM5 Formula 3
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    #8 SeattleM5, Mar 2, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thanks Brian, I really appreciate it! Especially the part about cycling the rack to get as much air out as possible before starting it up, I would have messed that part up. Now the hard part, filling her back up without spilling PS fluid all over the engine!
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