i flushed my power steering pump and the gear box. well i followed all the videos and peoples advice for doing so. by disconnecting the line that runs back into your resevoir and aimed into a bucket under the car. then (while im pouring new fluid in) i had a friend turn the key over. ... well lets just say i made a really nice mess. so i got to thinking. cant i do the same by disconnecting the belt to the pump and turn it by hand with out all the pressure from the engine turning it so fast? just a thought.

I would say no,, I jack the car up, get the weight off the wheels,, start & run the car,, well another person do that like you did,, put a long hose on the return line and put it in a 5 gallon bucket and start the car and have the person who started it turn the wheel lock to lock while you add P/S fluid dont let the resovoir run dry,, it will empty in a heart beat while running. No mess and all the junk in the system comes out,, works well,, Matty man:beer:

When I replaced my pump I had to start the engine to get the thing to pump. Then it went so quick it pumped out. Next I reattached everything started the engine and it took a bit to start pumping. It's been fine since. Long story short, don't think turning by hand will accomplish what you want.

Leo

well i did it with the car jacked up and had my friend start the engine but i it had so much pressure that it moved the hose out of the bucket and went all over the shop floor. i was just wondering if it could have been done the other way. i think if i have to ever do it agin i will use something to clamp the hose to the bucket.

You are correct,, I failed to say,, I taped a heavy object a big C clamp,, anyway something with some weight and the hose stayed right where it should of and did not pop out,, Matty man

if your ps is working fine but has crappy looking fluid i prefer to just siphon the resevoir. top it off run it and turn the wheels. siphon it again as many times as you wish. while its not a flush you are replacing the lubricant with fresh. been doing this to my transmission in my driver pontiac every other oil change. 3.5 quarts out. 3.5 quarts of fresh back in. started when it had 40k and it has 268k on it now. never had the pan off and its still is running great. fluid looks bright red.