power steering starting to go

[Dave P]

The power steering is slowly getting worse( hard to turn wheel) on my 97 Outback. Fluid full. Hope you guys can give me some help. Thanks,

Dave

[backcountrycrui]

What color is the fluid in the pump. If it is "clean" looking and red, then that

 

is good. If it is brown, like mud and bubley(?) that is bad. If it is brown

 

then you have a bad seal in the steering rack. The bad seal lets in nasties

 

from the out side, and destroys the rack in short order. If the fluid is clean,

 

then maybe the power steering pump. Ive heard of some steering racks

 

having a valve that can fail and make it hard to turn in one direction or

 

both. I dont know if you car has one. I replaced the rack in an old GL once,

 

pretty easy. I replaced the rack in a 1998 explorer once too, and should

 

have paid the 150.00 to have it done. It sucked. I havent done one on a

 

legacy though.

 

Hope it helps,

Mike

[eulogious]

  Dave P said:

The power steering is slowly getting worse( hard to turn wheel) on my 97 Outback. Fluid full. Hope you guys can give me some help. Thanks,

Dave

 

This should be posted in the new gen forum, so you might get some better help in the new gen forum...

[Dave P]

Thanks guys

[idosubaru]

Subaru steering racks don't fail that often and are very easy to replace so a used unit is a very good option. Since they rarely fail they're readily available and cheap.