SVX Steering Rack
 

I took my car in to get new tires and they said I needed a new steering rack, which they gave me an estimate of 520$ for the part alone. I went to 1stsubaruparts.com and found this :

Description Year MSRP Price Core Price Your Price
Rack, justy - manual - MANUAL 90-94 $263.05 $189.40

I have a 94 LSi, and I wasn't sure if this is what I wanted or not. Could someone possibly help me find the right part for my car? Thanks.

thats for a justy not the same thing at all you should be able to find one at any parts store but they are VERY expensive... why do you need a new rack is it leaking? how bad? because you might want to wait for it to get worse... these things are 300 my cost rebuilt.... :mad: i need to replace mine too the right hand seal is leaking fluid so that every time i come to a stop smoke from fluid hitting my cat come out the side....

I was just pricing these online. $285 + $150 Core

Why?
 

Why did they think you need a new rack? Do YOU think you need a new rack? Is it hard to steer? Do you lose fluid?? Many people are told they need things when they really don't.

Lee

I have a slow leak (a 1/2" spot on my driveway after letting it sit for 16 hours or so). It is what looks like oil but I am not sure. What kind of fluid would leak if the rack was bad?

I can turn the steering wheel, however, from a complete stop it requires more effort than it probably should, but not so bad that it's as if it had no power steering at all. While driving, there is seemingly no issues as far as difficulty steering the wheel. Also, I get a squeaky noise when turning from a complete stop or slow speeds.

Here's how the deal at the mechanic went down. I parked my car went and gave em my keys. The guy who actually put the tires on the car drove it into the garage, so he felt the steering from a complete stop and while moving. After he put my tires on, he came back in and handed me my keys. I asked him if he knew what the problem was with the problem steering and he said it was the steering rack, and that it could be a potential fire hazard due to the heat coming off the cat.

All your guy's help is greatly appreciated. Thanks :-D

Rack
 

The power steering also uses automatic transmission fluid ATF as indicated on the power steering pump reservoir. It should be red if the correct fluid is being used. Check the level of fluid to make sure it is correct.

I doubt that your rack would squeal. That sounds more like a belt or possibly the power steering pump but a pump going out is normally a growling sound.

The most common area for leaking on the steering system is a small O-ring between the pump and reservoir tank.

As usual, the best advice is to thoroughly clean your engine top and bottom and then look for leaks after driving a while. Its difficult to assess leaks from a dirty engine.

Most commonly drops of oily substance under the car after being parked is engine oil coming from the valve covers. It would definitely NOT be red.

I am still not convinced you have a significant rack problem.

Lee

Thanks Lee,

I will check the color of the fluid in the power steering reservoir tank tomorrow morning. In the event that it isn't red or is dirty, is it possible to drain out the old fluid and just refill it to see if that makes a difference?

As far as the squeaking goes, my initial thoughts was that it was the belt assembly, as it seems to do it more when there is moisture around (i.e. morning dew, or after i drove in the rain for awhile, stopped for a little, then drove again).

Just to clarify: the mechanic telling me the rack was leaking oil is incorrect as it would leak ATF, which is red?

Thanks again for your help guys :-)

idk if its normal for the SVX but my car seems a lil hard to turn

its harder then some other vehicles i driven but not to a point where i feel like something is going to break

i hear a slight moan when i turn at low speeds and thought i was low on fluid so i added a lil bit but it still moans

any ideas?

new pump maybe?

Ok, so I checked the power steering reservoir, and the level is normal with the correct fluid. I am not quite sure what this means, other than I'm not leaking any atf from the power steering system.

Is there any other way I can tell to see if I need a new steering rack?

Also, I am still in the blue. The mechanic told me the steering rack was leaking oil. Is this possible, or would it only leak atf?

Thanks.

I would just wait...
 

since you are not losing fluid and it checks full, I would accept it as another miracle and count my blessings. 99% of the people that we could take our cars to are crooks, might be 99% +

The SVX is a little harder to steer than some but they had a reason to make it that way.

Wait till you need one.

Keith

Believe it or not a faulty O ring underneath the reservoir will let in air and this results in a strange noise, which can be very well described as a squeak and varies in sound from car to car. Refer to the how too section and replace the O ring. Easy and cheap as dirt.:)

The steering rack can not leak oil, unless it has been filled with oil. ;)

Before assuming the steering is heavy, compare with another SVX. I am fairly sure there are figures in the manuals quoting the exact weight involved. Do you have a suitable spring balance.? Shout if you need them.

alright

thnx keith

ive alwyz wondered bout it but did nothing about it or asked cause i figureed the SVX is a rare care and has its own ways of wrking lol

thnx

Trevor / Keith / Lee


Thanks for your insight. It is much appreciated.

My friend about 30 minutes from here owns an svx actually (I saw his (the first one I ever saw) and decided I needed to get one myself :-D). I'll ask him if I can test drive his to compare to mine. I'm sure he won't mind.

Any thoughts what might cause that slight of an oil leak? I do know that the transmission was replaced, so I am unsure if that would factor in somewhere.

Thanks again guys :-)

Happy Driving!

Well you first need to determine or specify whether it is oil or atf that is leaking and go from there.