Cerma Ceramic Power Steering Treatment

In most cases, yes. Power steering pump whine is typically caused by internal friction and wear on the pump vanes, gears, or bearings. Cerma's SiC ceramic coating reduces friction on these surfaces, which helps quiet the pump. Best results on pumps with normal wear-related noise. If the pump has structural mechanical failure (broken vanes, seized bearings, failed reservoir screens), the treatment cannot repair physical damage — but for friction-related noise, it is very effective. Cold-morning startup squeal often shows the most dramatic improvement.

Yes. The SiC particles permanently bond to the metal surfaces inside your power steering pump, rack, and valve body. The ceramic coating survives fluid changes — when you flush or replace power steering fluid, the protection stays on the metal. No reapplication needed for the life of the steering system.

Yes — the treatment coats the rack, valve body, and spool valve surfaces, not just the pump. Common rack-and-pinion symptoms include stiffness at rest (hard to turn while parked), uneven assist (easier to turn one direction than the other), jerky or "notchy" feel during cornering, and light knocking noise when going over bumps. Cerma's SiC ceramic coating addresses friction and wear on all internal rack surfaces. For structural rack damage (leaking tie rod seals, worn bushings, bent rack shaft), the treatment cannot repair mechanical failure — but friction and wear-related rack symptoms often improve significantly.

Yes. Cerma STM-3® is compatible with all power steering fluid types: universal Dexron/Mercon ATF, Chrysler ATF+4, Ford Mercon V, GM Dexron-VI, Pentosin CHF 11S (BMW/Mercedes/Audi/VW), Honda PSF-S/Acura PSF-II, Toyota PSF, Mopar PS+4, and all OEM-specific synthetic power steering fluids. The treatment bonds to metal surfaces, not the fluid — so your fluid choice doesn't affect ceramic protection. Always use the fluid type specified by your vehicle manufacturer.

Cerma STM-3® conditions power steering seals and may help stop minor seepage from dried-out or shrinking seals. However, it is not a dedicated leak-stop product. If you have an active leak (visible dripping, fluid level dropping, requires frequent topping off, puddles on the ground), the seal, hose, or fitting needs physical replacement — no treatment can repair hard leaks from torn seals, split hoses, or pump shaft seal failure. Cerma works best as a wear-reduction treatment, not a leak fix.

Look under your hood for a power steering fluid reservoir (usually a small capped container near the front of the engine with a steering wheel icon on the cap). If you find one, you have hydraulic power steering and Cerma will work. If there's no reservoir, your vehicle has electric power steering (EPS/EPAS), which doesn't use fluid — Cerma cannot treat electric systems. Most vehicles from 2012 and older have hydraulic power steering. Many newer vehicles (2013+) have switched to EPS. If you have an older truck, classic car, or heavy-duty vehicle (F-250, Silverado 2500, Ram 2500, Super Duty), you almost certainly still have hydraulic power steering.

Yes — Cerma STM-3® works on all major power steering pump manufacturers. Saginaw (GM/Chevy/GMC/Cadillac/Buick). Ford Motorcraft (all Ford/Lincoln/Mercury). ZF Friedrichshafen (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover). Koyo Seiko / JTEKT (Toyota, Honda, Acura, Lexus, Subaru). Hitachi (Nissan, Infiniti, some GM). TRW (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, heavy-duty truck applications). The SiC particles bond to ferrous metal surfaces regardless of pump brand or design — vane pumps, gear-type pumps, and piston pumps are all compatible.

Possibly — it depends on the cause. Foamy or aerated (milkshake-looking) power steering fluid usually indicates air getting into the system, which can be caused by: (1) low fluid level — top off first; (2) loose hose clamps or worn return hose — inspect and tighten/replace; (3) failing pump shaft seal — mechanical repair needed; (4) wrong fluid type or mixed fluid types — flush and refill with correct fluid. If the foaming is caused by internal pump wear creating cavitation, Cerma's ceramic coating on pump internals can help reduce cavitation and smooth fluid flow. But if foaming comes from air ingress or wrong fluid, fix the root cause first — then Cerma will help protect the repaired system going forward.