pretty much. first time you turn the steering wheel either way it will suck up most the fluid in the reservoir so you have to be ready to add more. Get one of the long skinny funnels, makes it easier.

 

You want to avoid starting the engine for as long as possible to avoid whipping/foaming the fluid. You can elevate your front wheels off the ground then add fluid and slowly turn your steering lock to lock a few times....add fluid and repeat multiple times. When it stops taking fluid you are most likely fine to start you car at that time. Allowing it to sit as long as possible prior to starting will also allow time for the system to bleed any trapped air...Good Luck

 

Getting the air out of a new power steering gear is the hardest part of bleeding a power steering system. Saginaw actually shipped power steering gears prefilled with power steering fluid because (even with) sophisticated vacuum fill systems, the car assembly plants had a difficult time getting all of the air out.

So take your time and rotate your steering wheel full lock to full lock a couple dozen times (with the engine OFF.) Refill as the fluid level drops and air bubbles rise into the pump reservoir. Rotating the steering wheel full lock to lock will actually slowly pump air and oil up through the system and large bubbles of air will rise into the pump reservoir and out. This procedure will save you time in the long run.

BTW, I always recommend that you fill your system with genuine GM power steering fluid. It is the amber colored stuff that you can purchase from your local GM dealer.

Jim

 

When I installed a new AGR pump and gear, they recommended filling the reservoir, turning the wheels lock-to-lock about 25 times, making certain to keep the reservoir full.

 

Well,

I just performed a GC swap and installed a new pump. GC box was bone dry due to changing some seals.

I filled up the reservoir and turned the wheel several times. The fluid level never went down. I eventually fired up the car for a few seconds and now have aerated fluid. I was done for the night at this point.

Tonight, I’ll raise the front end and turn wheel lock to lock and hope to purge some air out (engine off).

 

when I installed the hydroboost, type II pump with remote reservoir, took me literally about 50+ turns to get most of the air out.....

even then, you will have to drive it some miles and within time most of the air will go away...