Warning this is extremely long winded and probably grammatically incorrect sorry. I sell shoes for a living. Hey guys just interested on everyone's input problem Im having with the STi. About a month or so ago when it started getting cold here I noticed on start up my car would have a power steering pump whine. It normally went away after the car was warm. It has done this in the colder months for a couple years now. This time it was a little different. On the way home one night I got some real bad steering wheel judder plus the whine. It was pretty consistent when having to do a turn bigger than a lane change. I have noticed that it seems to happen more when I am turning left. Since moving away I had to do a lot more research on forums for diy fixes for my problems. A few things consistently came up with guys that were having the same problems that I was. The remedy was about the same for everyone (swap fluid, change oem spring clamps to screw type clamps, inspect hoses for cracks/holes and change the o-ring on top of the PWS pump). I did all that and tried to bleed the system by turning the wheels by hand 20-30 times. It took me doing that a few times and driving the car for a day or two for it to turn and drive normal again. I did feel like after all that the steering felt a little loose but I thought that it was all in mind. All was some what well until last week I starting having the same problems again. I got frustrated and with my head down I took the car to one of the local dealerships. They came back and said that all signs were pointing to my steering rack. I thought to myself WTF Ive never seen or heard of a Subaru having steering rack problems. But I had no choice I took their word for it and ordered a new rack and hoses. This Thursday it will be in the car. Part of me feels like they are trying to sell me a expensive fix (I am taking the car to another dealership for the repair though). On the other hand since Ive own the car on faster turns, or u-turns, or hitting some bumps I felt and heard a hard thump that feels steering rack related. I ignored it since it wasn't consistent. Also while trying for ever to bleed the system when I'm under the car and turning the wheels I can hear air leaking from somewhere on the rack. I just don't want to spent the $ replacing the rack and it be the PWS pump. I did notice that the plastic hard line has a crack that goes all the way around but it seems to hold fine. One last thing I got a great ass deal on the car because it was in a fender bender that involved the front of the car some how. Everything was re-certified through Classic Subaru. Not that I would go after them at this point but it might be related. Halp! What should I do?
make sure they clean the reservoir out... and they do wear out. lowered larger wheel/tire combo adds stress which leads to failure.
I was just a little taken back when the first dealership gave me a $1800 quote right before Xmas. Got that qoute almost cut in half at another though.
Got the car back today. I had the dealership diagnose the problem turns out it was only the steering pump. I ordered a new pump and hoses and booya the car is back to normal. Never realized how much I would miss my car until I didn't drive it for a week and a half.
Which hoses did you order? Reservoir? I am doing my PS pump this week. It is leaking from the back seal somewhere.
Did they have to order those or did they have them in stock? I really want to get this done this weekend. Been dealing with it for a year since my timing belt was replaced...
Yeah, SOG has them. Going to get them Friday. Looks to be a pretty easy job. Just have to bleed the system well.