William Colflesh

There are no bubbles in the p/s reservoir. Sooberoo, you mention that "timing components" can cause a whine. To which components do you refer?

Engine is 4 cylinder. Transmission is automatic. Car has 70,000 miles. All scheduled maintenance has been done, since new. When the noise first began (after timing a/c and p/s belts and pulleys were replaced by the non-dealer shop), I read blogs that said turning wheel back and forth several times would bleed power steering system. I did that many times, with no benefit. I then read that the belt shroud mounting bracket had to be configured with slack around the bolt into power steering pump, or movement of the engine would cock the o-ring and perpetually cause air to get in around the o-ring. I checked that mounting. The shop that did the initial belt replacement had configured it rigidly. I had the Subaru dealer re-do the belt and pulley replacement (except timing belt), and replace the o-ring. After that work the mounting bracket had the requisite slack. The worst of the noise was gone, but some remained. After a few more months of the noise, with a follow-up to the dealer, I decided the pump was now ruined. I had a brand new (not rebuilt) pump installed by the dealer. All noise stopped. This made me think all other accessories were be in sound condition and I was good to go. A couple days later I began hearing a low level whine, constant level, pitch increasing and decreasing with engine rpm. I initially thought this to be a new issue . . . that a bearing in alternator or a/c compressor was failing. Then a periodic howling began, such as I had heard before the pump replacement. The howling had stopped for a while after the pump replacement. I once again suspect the power steering system to be source of all noise. Sooberoo, you mention that "timing components" can cause a whine. To which components do you refer?

Front suspension of my '08 Outback has since brand new "clunked" going over bumps. I complained to the dealer each time I had it in during the first couple years. They ignored me. I removed some of the noise by adding additional hood bumpers.

My '08 Outback has 70,000 miles. I recently had all belts replaced, thinking it would be good preventive maintenance. Since then, many issues with power steering pump. It appears the shop that did the work did not understand Subaru's as well as they said they did, caused air to get into the system . . . and did not bleed the system properly. After several trips to the dealer, over several months, there was some improvement. I decided the pump was now trashed and a new one was needed to get the issue resolved. The new pump quieted things down significantly. Car is scheduled for a follow-up visit this coming Tuesday, for further power system bleeding. Current symptoms include a low level whine, going up and down with engine RPM . . . plus an intermittent howl. All Wheel Drive Auto has an interesting blog on the o-ring-induced noise problem. https://allwheeldriveauto.com/why-is-the-power-steering-making-noise-on-my-subaru-outback/. If the o-ring is in bad shape and/or the hose connection to the pump (around the o-ring) has insufficient slack, air will get into system around the o-ring. The bleeding procedure is not straightforward.

Front suspension of my '08 Outback has since brand new "clunked" going over bumps. I complained to the dealer each time I had it in during the first couple years. They ignored me. I removed some of the noise by adding additional hood bumpers.