Where did all my power sterring fluid go??

[fldcar]

Hi everybody....It has been quite a while since I posted here....since then I have been employed at my local Subaru dealership working in the garage alongside another Subaru technician (since I am still only 17 I can not get certified or anything like that)

I was driving around on friday and noticed alot of smoke comming from the car....my friend stuck his head out the window to look and it was comming from the front passenger wheel well. I pulled into burger kind to find that my power steering fluid was way low and that the exaust on the passengers side was drenched in power steering fluid. I guess my power steering rack finally blew out.... But now the question is....how hard is it to change.....has anybody here ever put one in themselves? The new part at the dealer is going to run me 650.00 (thank goodness for employee pricing) so I want to be sure that it is in right and not going to blow again. What all do i need to change it...

My car is a 92 LSL with the electronic steering speed sensative and It is a different rack for the standard power steering and the LSL power steering I found that out when I got my price.

Thanks for any help in advance. Tim

Chances are one of the power steering hoses has given up, probably the return hose. This is pretty simple to replace and should be a small issue at your place of employment. Now to clean off all the oil from the hot parts will take some doing. Make sure no oil got on any belts.

[fldcar]

The leak seems to be comming from back under the engine........All the hoses under the hood up front are tight and leak free. Could there still be a leak under there somewhere or should I just plan on the rack. I am goin to take a look at it tomorrow and see where it is comming from exactly. tim

Tim-

Where is Cambridge Springs?

Mike

Originally posted by fldcar
The leak seems to be comming from back under the engine...

Of course everything's a question until you get underneath and see what's up. I've never heard of a rack blowing out, just the hoses to it. B.

[lee]

I don't have anything to add to this thread in specific terms. I agree it's probably the return hose down by the rack.

However, I did blow out the rack on the car I drove before the SVX. It was a 91 Toyota MR2. Have to admit the circumstances were a "little" suspect though. Was driving down a rain flooded street (too fast for conditions) and hit a hidden pothole (about 6" deep) hard enough to bend the rim of a two-piece alloy wheel I was running. Screwed up the rack and blew out the seals. I'm guessing it was from the sudden and rather violent impact (was going about 30mph).

[ensteele]

I know of several cases of the return line (low pressure) on the PS going. It is towards the back part of the engine when it leaks. I know this is more apt to happen than the rack going. Look tomorrow and keep us informed. Good luck.

[fldcar]

First.....Cambridge Springs is about 30 mile south of Erie Pa, I saw you (green 1995 Svx) a week ago saturday as I drove right by you in my legacy trying to get to Wagners Foreign to look at the car in portersville before 3 oclock when they closed........

Now on with my leak....sure enough it is a hose and not the rack.......It is the hose comming from the pump....(high Pressure) and right where it turns from rubber to metal it is leaking.....

What confuses me is the line at the pump is metal and it runs way down along the passengers side cylinder head and then somewhere changes to rubber in that mess of hoses and stuff.,.......is there some sort of valve down in there or somethig for the electronic controlled steering and the line comes out of the valve as rubber???? I am so glad that it is not the power steering rack......just how hard is it to change one of these hoses.....What can I do to make it as easy as possible. Thanks Tim

[ensteele]

I am in the same boat, I need to change the pressure line as well. I have not looked at it yet, but I will have to get to it this weekend. I am all ears as well.