1993 Legacy 2.2 wagon 2WD

 

It had a funny noise every now and then. The noise was coming from the power steering pump area. So I took the belt off and spun the power steering pulley and there was a grinding feeling. I think the bearing is about to go.

 

How hard is it to replace the power steering pump? Anyone done this before and have any advice or suggestions?

 

Thanks guys!

Its a few bolts holding it in. Make sure to use a new belt. Also, when fillling the new pump up add the fluid slow and keep jumping back in the car and turn the wheel side to side, it does help to have someone moving the wheel for you.

How hard is it to replace the power steering pump? Anyone done this before and have any advice or suggestions?

 

It's really quite simple and straightforward (based on the fact that if I can do it . . . !)

 

It's been awhile so I can't offer any tips. But I don't recall any problems at all.

 

Good luck.

If at all possible flush the rack good before firing up the new pump after the replacement and if practicable install some sort of filter like a hydraulic filter or a magnefine in the PS return line. If the thing is grinding and it got metal shavings into the system for any reason that won't be good.

Thanks guys! Flushing the system sounds like a plan. Metal pieces floating around can't be good.

 

Did you take the pulley off and reuse the old one? Mine looks in good shape.

Reusing the old pulley I guess depends on whether the one you get comes with a new pulley. I don't know exactly what the pump style is for that year, but I just replaced the PS pump on my '00OBW and the new OE pump came with a new pulley installed. To reuse the old pulley I'd had of disassembled the pump since it was welded onto the shaft not just pressed on.

In that case, I hope the one I get has the pulley attached.

I replaced the power steering pump on my 94 with one from a junkyard and it came with it's own pulley so I didn't worry about that. The R&R job is really very easy. I think it took me about half an hour to do. Then I did my best to bleed the system by working the steering a bunch while stationary and driving slowly, adding fluid as needed. I don't think it took very much extra fluid to bleed it after the installation.

I backflushed mine with an inexpensive suction/pressure pump from harbor freight, it'll suck or push one quart of the fluid of your choice and it costs only about $6. It has like a 3/8" hose barb so you hook it up to whatever you want. I have about 5 that I use for various fluids.