no power steering after replacing steering rack

[sirtokesalot]

 i replaced the steering rack on my 2001 outback this morning and after i finished i added fluid to the power steering steered left and right got power steering for about a minute or so in the driveway and when i went for a test drive the power steering vanished. came back home tryed steering left and right again the system is not pulling any more fluid out of the resivour and i have what feels like manual steering with 0 assist now. the power steering worked fine before the swap what am i doing wrong?

[sirtokesalot]

can delete or leave up for future reference. i got mad and floored it coming down my driveway and felt the power steering kick in for a second so when i got in the parking spot i revved the engine up to around 3500 while steering and could feel it coming and going until it finally had steady power steering and wasent fading out anymore. i had to rev the engine to get it to flow the rest throgh the rack.

[forester2002s]

Sounds like it needs a good fluid-flush.

[idosubaru]

awesome.  i would say turn it back and forth lock to lock like 20 times to help bleed it, but yeah you eventually got it all worked out. 

[heartless]

yup, jack up the front, work steering back and forth, lock to lock (engine running) many, many times.. keep on eye on the reservoir & keep it topped up with fluid. you have air in the system still and you need to get it worked out.