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Old 12-22-2011, 04:23 PM   #126
SamOntario
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I am in a similar situation with almost identical symptoms. No foaming in the Power Steering Reservoir but apparently foaming with the ATF even after a drain and fill. Turning seems better after the ATF drain and fill, but the problem still persisted at a less violent degree.

Quote:
Originally Posted by I come from honda View Post
I think it's time for me to go down the same road. I've replaced all SIX clamps (including the two under the car on the steering rack) and one o-ring in the pump. I'm debating between removing the pump to rebuild it, and just going ahead and replacing the pump.

My problem started as a high pitched whine from the PS pump and shaking of the wheel while turning. Now I have a groaning noise from the PS pump and shaking while turning, and a weird shaking that comes and goes while on the highway. I've gone through the bleeding process probably a dozen times and I have zero bubbles in the reservoir.

The lack of bubbles is what makes me nervous about dropping money on a PS pump.
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Old 01-14-2012, 06:28 PM   #127
I come from honda
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Well, that's weird. I let my car sit for a week without driving it and the problem went away. Then again, I had already replaced all six clamps and bled the system multiple times. Maybe I had a bubble stuck in a weird place that just needed time to work it's way out.
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Old 01-15-2012, 02:49 AM   #128
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After another ATF drained and filled and pumped& filled from the power steering reservoir all binding & noise from the transmission and power steering went away. After driving for over 3 weeks trouble free, I think my power steering and transmission binding problems are solved.
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Old 01-16-2012, 07:52 AM   #129
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Having the same issues and noticed the clamps on my 05 sti are not the worm type that is suggested in previous pages on this thread. The question I have is whether the worm type clamps are better than the stock ones?
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Old 01-16-2012, 08:07 AM   #130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by niceaznwrxguy View Post
Having the same issues and noticed the clamps on my 05 sti are not the worm type that is suggested in previous pages on this thread. The question I have is whether the worm type clamps are better than the stock ones?
I replaced my spring clamps with screw down clamps. I'm not sure which you're calling "worm type", but the screw down clamps are definitely better.
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Old 01-16-2012, 01:28 PM   #131
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Quote:
Originally Posted by I come from honda

I replaced my spring clamps with screw down clamps. I'm not sure which you're calling "worm type", but the screw down clamps are definitely better.
Thanks. Also can anybody pin point where all six are and do I have to remove anything to see them? I removed the alternator cover and Im able to see 3 of them but I dont know where all of them are? Im just worried that I will move the wrong clamp or something
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Old 01-16-2012, 01:36 PM   #132
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You should be able to see 4 from where you are. Just follow the lines going to/from the reservoir.

The last two are under the car on the steering rack, they're somewhat difficult to access. That's where my air leak was. I could actually hear it sucking air when I was trying to bleed the rack. The bleeding process described earlier in the thread actually makes things much worse if your steering rack clamps are letting air in.
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Old 01-16-2012, 07:40 PM   #133
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Same proble here but all issuses solved now. Even a subaru specific shop said I had a faulty pump and would gladly get me a new one for 500.00. New o ring and new clamps did the trick. I also cut about 1 inch off the inlet hose due to a small leak. I thought it might be my rack and pinion because it looks like a slight leak but I all good now. During the process of bleeding, the steering wheel shook violently and I mean violently. After sitting for an hour or so Ive had no issues in the past week and my steering is perfect
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Old 08-31-2012, 10:46 AM   #134
Jjfriscia
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Default Power steering

Just recently i had some squeals when parking my 2000 subaru outback 2.5 so i found this info online to adjust the fanbelt cover because a belt was replaced in my car recently and the hardware was tighting and no slack was given after i followed these instructions my power steering symptoms had increased to a rubbing noise when i turn my wheel and also the wheel was harder to move i cant seem to understand what i might have done this is the link to the video that i watched. Should i still replace clamps and drain/replace the powersteering fluid.

http://allwheeldriveauto.com/why-is-...ubaru-outback/
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Old 09-15-2012, 11:34 AM   #135
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Hey guys. I'm having the squeal. Haha I've changed the fluid and bled. Looks like my next option is to change clamps/ bolts. I'm a re re though and don't know which ones to change. Does anyone have pictures of the items in suspect?
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Old 11-04-2012, 05:14 PM   #136
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I don't get any abnormal sounds but the steering wheel shudders when turning at slower speeds. Do you think this could be the clamps leaking air?
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Old 11-04-2012, 07:41 PM   #137
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o2baracr View Post
I don't get any abnormal sounds but the steering wheel shudders when turning at slower speeds. Do you think this could be the clamps leaking air?
Did you remove the banjo? air is probably in system and bleeding process needs to be followed.

By the way, I found out a huge tip that I didn't realize the first time I removed the turbo inlet ...and don't remember seeing anywhere (except in the factory service manual):

This time to install my 3'' AVO inlet...instead of unbolting the banjo hard line, I simply unbolted the power steering pump and bolts that hold the hard lines to the intake maniofold...and shifted the P/S pump over to the RH wheel apron. NO BLEEDING REQUIRED!
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Old 01-29-2013, 09:42 AM   #138
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Just went through a similar situation this past weekend. I started hearing some whining coming from the pump, so I pulled out the o-ring, and it was visibly warped. Went all over town looking for a part that for some reason Subaru will not sell. I replaced the o-ring, started the car, heard horrible sounds coming from the pump, and power steering fluid started pouring out of the reservoir. When I took the o-ring back out, it was sliced in 1/2 and I then spent 2 hours in the freezing cold cleaning up my car from all the PS fluid.

I spent the next day looking for the o-ring using 3 sizes I gathered from the forums (10mm x 14mm x 2 mm; 11mm x 15mm x 2mm; and 5/8" x 1/2" x 1/16") but I could only find the last one. When I got home I saw it was as thin as the one that was cut in 1/2 and caused the leak the night before.

My friend happened to have a spare o-ring from a fuel kit that looked right (when placed on a quarter it was the same size but just a tiny bit thicker), so I used that and bled the system. I also replaced the 4 pressure clamps with worm screw hose clamps. I bought two 1" and two 3/4" but I should have bought four 3/4".

I heard some air coming out while doing the bleeding when the car was in the air but the fluid level did not drop. I put the car on the ground, started it up, continued the bleeding process, heard more air come out and the fluid dropped. It did not drop as much as I thought it would have but I put ~1/2 bottle of Dextron III ATF in. I went for a test drive, did some U-turns and it seems problem solved.

Unfortunately I cannot report on the sizing of the o-ring which is obviously the most important and hardest part to find. ACE, Lowe's, True Value, Pep-Boys, AutoZone, etc, none of them had anything close. As it was Sunday, all the Auto supply stores were closed so I wasn't able to check them. It's crazy how Subaru will not sell this part that can save us $500.00+.
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Old 01-30-2013, 11:43 PM   #139
cemorris98
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Default Fixed mine

Want to thank everyone for putting this thread together. My pump is different than the ones described so far. Mine is a 2003 WRX Wagon. The suction side of the pump is located on the side of the pump rather than the top making it more difficult but not impossible to get to. The o ring size I used was 14mm ID x 2.5 thickness. I replace all clamps on the system first. When doing so I discovered the two return hoses attached to the reservoir were hard all the way through so to be safe I bought the two expensive hoses from Subaru. The clamps and hoses fixed almost all of it, the o ring fixed the rest. It all started when I replaced two o rings down at the rack on both pressure and return hoses to fix a leak. The introduction of the air started this whole thing. Symptoms were just like everyone else, pump whine and shuddering of the wheels when steering. I am in Phoenix Arizona and I have been steadily replacing hoses and vacum lines over the past 6 months. The heat has made all of them hard as a rock over time and very fragile.
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Old 02-11-2013, 06:49 AM   #140
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I too want to thank everyone for this thread.

I replaced the turbo inlet the other day with a perrin one and removed the banjo bolt.. and guess what.. air in the system.
I was pulling my hair out as I could not see any leaks from the banjo bolt area after putting it all back together and yet the ps pump was making a horrendous noise and I was losing ps.

Just followed the instructions in this thread today, replaced the OEM clamps with screw ones, a new O ring and new fluid (couldn't find new washers for the banjo bolt but I took my chances).

As it turns out, the thicker hose coming out of the reservoir tank was leaking at the clamp.. it was a very minor leak but obviously enough to introduce air into the system. Tightened the clamp and all is good.

Thanks!
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Old 05-08-2013, 10:47 PM   #141
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Tagged for research purposes
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Old 05-09-2013, 11:44 AM   #142
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RunninKurt View Post
Tagged for research purposes
It seems like this is an 04-07 Issue based on the profiles of those replying. Anyone see this happen in an '02? My steering wheel shudders at low speed tight turns. There is no noise from the power steering though.
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Old 05-09-2013, 12:38 PM   #143
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RunninKurt View Post
It seems like this is an 04-07 Issue based on the profiles of those replying. Anyone see this happen in an '02? My steering wheel shudders at low speed tight turns. There is no noise from the power steering though.
I had it in my '03 WRX, but only while AutoX-ing. Some courses really beat up the power steering, and it would over-heat.
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Old 06-20-2013, 05:25 PM   #144
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Changed the copper washers because they were seeping fluid . Then I could not get the system to bleed. Tried the clamps and still had bubbles in the reservoir . Of course I check the o-ring last and it was all flat. Put the new o-ring on , no more bubbles and problem fixed. Here's what the old one looked like
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Old 06-24-2013, 12:54 AM   #145
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Yup, same problems here with a 95 impreza L. Just rebuilt the power steering pump, kept whining. Replaced the seal on the actual reservoir, no more problems.
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Old 07-29-2013, 10:19 AM   #146
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I have an 05 WRX which I've had sitting for almost a year while I did some work to it. I've replaced all the clamps and the single o-ring but I still have shudder when turning.
I've bled the system multiple times even checking the pressure fittings for the power steering hoses at the rack itself.

I could have a bad pump altogether on the WRX. I was doing an engine swap and when I was installing the power steering pump it fell off the engine puncturing my AC condenser and landed on the concrete floor of my garage. It's possible that one of the inner o-rings which had already been sitting for quite a while gave up the ghost but I don't have any leaks from the pump.

I'm picking up a re-manufactured pump from Auto Zone today (80 bucks after core return) and will report back but here's what I've done so far and I need some new ideas if this new pump doesn't work.

~Replaced the o-ring on the suction fitting and tested the system, still some bubbles.
~Replaced all 4 spring clamps to and from the reservoir: Less bubbles but still some shudder
~replaced 2 spring clams on rack itself and verified all pressure fittings on rack were tight and not leaking: no change
~removed cleaned and re-attached both power steering hoses from pump/reservoir to rack verifying no cracks leaks or dirt: No change

I've purged the system completely and have replaced with new ATF fluid actually 3 times now for a complete flush. But the

"cat came back the very next day, the cat came back (I thought he was a goner) but the cat came back..."

I've used 4 different bleeding processes with someone helping and reporting on the fluid in the reservoir.
1: Engine on, car on jackstands moving steering wheel left and right ~10-15 degrees back and fourth
- a few small bubbles but a slight buzzing sound from pump (no whine or groan)
2: Engine on, car on jackstands moving steering wheel left and right lock to lock
- still, a few small bubbles but the same slight buzzing sound from pump (no whine or groan)
3: Engine off, car on jackstands moving steering wheel left and right lock to lock
- no bubbles, no slurping sounds
4: Engine off, car on jackstands pushing the actual wheel left and right lock to lock.
-no bubbles but notible slurping sound in rack.

#4 is what has me worried that it might be the rack itself. There are no liquid leaks anywhere though. Does anyone have any other ideas before I replace the pump?
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Old 07-29-2013, 08:03 PM   #147
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I think you may need to just drive it for awhile to help let more air out. I swapped out o rings, clamps, and fluid and even after bleeding it for an hour in every way I could think of it still would shudder. I unfortunately had to do this a few times and found that just driving the car for about a week usually took care of the shuddering. On 6 months currently no shudders and no leaks. Good luck!
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Old 07-29-2013, 11:45 PM   #148
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I'll give it a shot. I just replaced the pump which did turn out to have some small leaks on it but the shudder remains.

I'll drive her around for a bit and see what happens I guess.

Thanks
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Old 10-03-2013, 03:50 AM   #149
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Default You guys rock!

I know this is an old thread, and there is probably no point in replying but.... I just have to say thanks a mil for all of the advice!!! I just had this issue on MY03 WRX and the clamps did the trick (The 4 on the lines from the reservoir) I still had air in the system for a while and went to get a new o-ring, but Subaru gave me the wrong one. Turns out I actually didn't tighten the banjo bolt enough cause after I put it back together after realizing the o-ring was incorrect, it all works!

Again a big thank you to all for the advice!

Dane
South Africa
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Old 10-21-2013, 03:43 PM   #150
BrandonDrums
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Just an update here too. After driving it around as per Blingstorm's suggestion the issue disappeared. It's been a few months since I had the issue, only took about 1.5 weeks for the steering to become smooth again.

I do believe the leaky pump was the source of the issue but purging the system was impossible. Daily Driving it was the only way it got better.
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