i wouldn't worry about the inside stain on the reservoir. Just remove and replace the reservoir's fluid 3 or 4 times and call it a day...you can use a turkey baster to remove fluid, and do it annually. Seriously...this is not a weak area of the LS....has anybody actually heard of an LS steering rack or seals going bad??

 

i did not worry about the stain just making a comment about it.. Was only concerned about any damage that i could have done.I also used a different type of turkey baster. Mine has a 4in needle on it. Also did not say it was a week spot!!

 

Actually there are screens in the middle of the reservoir separated by plastic spokes, like a wheel, but not one in the center. My 2001 UL has 117K and had the stain you guys are talking about. I removed my reservoir and used a whole can of Berryman's Carb Cleaner and the jet spray tube to clean as much of the stain as possible and noticed the screen was mostly plugged with fine black rubber particles. I left it to dry completely in the sun while I took off the PPS solenoid to gravity-drain the old fluid and also to clean it, too. After reassembly, it took approximately two and a half quarts T-IV to refill, if I recall correctly. Steering was much improved after bleeding all the air out of the system. If I were you guys and you're interested in flushing your power steering system, I'd do as I did but leave the PPS slightly loose and have someone help you if possible to fill the reservoir until clean fluid is draining around the PPS solenoid and then tighten it before you top it off and start the bleeding process while the front wheels are off the ground. It'll speed up the process significantly by reducing more air in the lines that would be purged when you start the car. Also, fluid will be aerated and will burp out of the reservoir when you start the car so just let it run for about a second and turn it off until all the air bubbles have disappeared from the fluid in the reservoir, top off, start for a second again, turn off, let settle, repeat till no air present before trying to turn the wheels with it running as the increased pressure while turning will just exacerbate the bleed process until all the air has been purged. Just my two cents.

 

I must of punctured the screen. O well.

 

Install a magnafine in-line filter on the return line and you'll be fine. I punctured the screen on my 90 LS years ago and did just that. No huge deal, and certainly not worth spending $100++ at the dealer for a new reservoir. Now if you're at the salvage yard and find one off another Toyota/Lexus in your year range and it can be had for $10 or so, by all means buy it, clean it up, and replace yours. But in the mean time, just install an in-line filter and don't sweat it.

 

This one?
http://uedata.amazon.com/Magnefine-I...MVH92KF62SZTF9


How do you change the filter?

 

Yes, exactly. That is the one I have used, although there may be better options out there that filter more contaminants. You'll typically want to install it in-line on the return line, but on the 2001-2004 LS430's both lines coming off the reservoir are low pressure. It's after the pump to the rack that you don't want to install anything on. Good rule-of-thumb is if the hydraulic line in question, be it a transmission line or power steering line, ect. has hydraulically-pressed fittings on the ends, it's meant for high pressure so attach filters like these on a low-pressure line that uses a simple clamp.

**Edit** By the way, you don't have to cut the existing hose. Use a brass hose coupling to join a length of fuel line to the "in" or "out" side of the filter to the existing hose. I had a 2-foot length that looped around and tucked the filter away by the ABS actuator under the air filter box on my 90 LS400. You can adapt the location to your liking.