The steering in my 97 outback is slowly dying. How can I determine if the cause is the rack or pump? I've redone about everything on this myself but have no experience with steering.Guess I'm about to get it.

Dave

I am guessing that the ATF level is full in the P/S reservoir. Front what I have read, Subie racks don't often break, so I assume it is prolly your P/S pump, if your steering wheel is hard to turn. If so, it is an easy swap to replace.

 

Several years back, I swapped in one on my 91 Subie. It was an easy job. Got one from a wrecking yard that worked just fine. Cost was about $35 from the yard.

Rack failure rare.

 

Pump failure much more often.

 

Pump leaking - somewhat common - but doesn't effect performance.

I replaced a weak pump on my brothers 92 leg nite&day difference

We need a better description of what is happening then just "dying".

 

How many miles on this car?

Are the rack boots torn or leaking?

 

 

 

nipper

I have 177,000 on this pump.New engine but same PSP. The steering has been getting progressively worse over the last week.Not sure if this applies, but the tension adjuster bolt on the alternator snapped a couple of weeks ago and with the loose belt I lost the power assist and had to drive some distance. No leaking that I can see.

Thanks

If there is no leaking at the Rack Boots, then the rack is fine. Thats how sooby racks go bad. Another general symptom for all racks is binding when the car is cold, then feels better as the car warms up.

 

It may be that your pump is tired. They are available in junkyards and are plentiful (ie cheap).

 

If the failure is non pulsing, then look at the pump. if it is pulsing/binding it may be the universal joint in the column under the hood.

 

 

nipper

I have 177,000 on this pump.New engine but same PSP. The steering has been getting progressively worse over the last week.Not sure if this applies, but the tension adjuster bolt on the alternator snapped a couple of weeks ago and with the loose belt I lost the power assist and had to drive some distance. No leaking that I can see.

Thanks

 

I think you answered your own ??????????????????

If there is no leaking at the Rack Boots, then the rack is fine. Thats how sooby racks go bad. Another general symptom for all racks is binding when the car is cold, then feels better as the car warms up.

 

It may be that your pump is tired. They are available in junkyards and are plentiful (ie cheap).

 

If the failure is non pulsing, then look at the pump. if it is pulsing/binding it may be the universal joint in the column under the hood.

 

 

nipper

 

Oh man...

 

I do believe I have torn rack boots. They got torn up a few months ago when I was driving through a flood.

 

After that, I've noticed more steering effort is needed, and that at low speeds (like parking, backing out, etc) the steering sounds odd. It hasn't bothered me enough to do anything much, though.