Had my 2008 Acadia (AWD SLT1, 50,300 miles) in to have the power steering checked, whining noise occurring at low speeds when turning and fluid was low. Dealership said leaking on both ends of the gears and total replacement of PS was $1100. Sounds like the steering rack (gear) was leaking out both sides of the bellows. Signs That Your Car Needs a Fluid Change: You Hear Noises Knowing when to change power steering fluid doesn’t have to be guesswork. Like other car issues, you can sometimes detect power steering problems by using your ears. A damaged steering pump is a common cause for power steering fluid leaks. Your Freestyle’s power steering pump pushes the hydraulic fluid through power steering hoses and through the steering rack or gearbox. It is turned by the serpentine belt attached to the engine. The pump can wear down over time. When it does, it can begin to leak power If you are constantly replenishing your power steering fluid, have your power steering input shaft seal looked at and replaced by a mechanic. 2. Difficulty steering. Since the fluid may be low, the power steering may not respond appropriately. This can manifest itself as difficulty turning corners, or the vehicle does not handle like it used to. You need a power steering flush if your vehicle feels harder to maneuver. Accompanying squeaking or growling sounds while steering also points to low or dirty steering fluid. The frequency of preventive power-steering flush is dependent on the vehicle’s age and the intensity of daily usage. The rest of the article will cover all you need to Step 1: Start by cleaning the working area using the car parts cleaner. Step 2: Locate the serpentine belt tensioner and remove the belt from the power steering pump pulley. Step 3: Once the belt is out, remove the power steering pump pulley. You may need a special removal tool depending on the type of car you drive. To prevent this and compromise power, you should know its causes and fixes. 5 of the most common power steering fluid leak causes include the following: Using the wrong fluid. Damage in the power steering hose. Leak in the power steering pump. Steering gear housing problem. Faulty hydro-boost brakes. Step Three: Remove the fill plug at the top of the transmission. Step Four: Insert an automotive funnel into the opening, and add a small amount of transmission fluid specific to your vehicle. Step Five: Recheck the inspection port. Once a little transmission fluid starts seeping out, let it pour until it stops. But with power steering fluid in the machine. You can use atf to flush the system, but my experiences have been that a power steering system full of atf will later leak and have issues like that until the atf is removed and replaced with genuine OEM power steering fluid. I used the old GM #1050017 power steering fluid, which looked exactly like This video will walk you through the evacuation of air from the power steering system of your vehicle. Please like and subscribe. 3sak5.