Power steering gear boot tear-replace tie rod too? Vac leak and MORE

[tehP]

Hey all,

 

The old '96 Legacy Outback Wagon is shaping up nicely.

I've finally conquered the exhaust leak(s) by installing

new gaskets between all the pipes and cats.

pic.twitter.com/QYzM2VIz - harvested exhaust gaskets!

 

Next up is the shifter bushings*.

I also caved and bought new exhaust bolts/springs/nuts

while I was there, as the Ford exhaust manifold bolts/springs

I bought at Autozone didn't fit

 

Anyway, here's my question:

 

Since the car's steering is totally fine, and from

what I can see by peering into the boot, the tie rod is cool.

How do I know it needs to be replaced?

But if I need to pull it off to replace the boot,

i might as well replace it if it needs to be swapped.

One thread I've been reading :

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/111-gen-1-1995-1999/23316-replacing-cv-boots-outback.html

Here's a photo of the small tear in my boot.

pic.twitter.com/AvCgJYAL

Sorry for poor quality.

I do know to mark the tie rod threads before removal (think i'll use spray paint) to avoid needing front end alignment. Surprisingly the alignment on the old girl is cool.

I've been hitting all related bolts with penetrating oil about every night for a few nights now.

 

Is the driver's side the left or right side??? I've seen both around the 'web, just wanted

an official definition.

 

Other than that, I have recently developed a rough idle issue under zero load.

suspiscous of a vacuum leak. I cleaned the PCV valve (wanted to replace

but the one dude gave me at Autozone doesn't fit) intake/throttle plate the other night

and although i was conscious of the vacuum hoses, it definetely idles rough right now.

 

For finding the vacuum leak:

Can i just use a bit of soapy water in a spray bottle?

I read that you should attach your air hose to the PCV valve and BLOW air into the system,

then squirt soapy water.

I don't have an air hose, or any hose that really fits (i could use my shopvac

exhaust to blow).

Or can i just spray while the car is running.

I still need to do the timing belt/water pump/thermostat/coolant flush

so i'm not gonna go nuts troubleshooting the idle issue until then.

Should I just replace all of the vacuum system hoses?

 

My gas mileage is TERRIBLE, getting about 10-12mpg. Hoping the exhaust

leaks were contributing.

Bought a cool OBDII reader; no trouble codes from the engine.

Any tips/thoughts on poor mileage?

 

Next up for little stuff:

-Adjust hill holder (it sticks). Surprisingly the front breaks seem fine!

-Replace shifter bushings

-Rear brakes (front ones are fine! i was surprised how much meat was left).

 

*I've purchased my bushings OEM from Subaru; apparently this model just needs 4 little bushings replaced.

I think i have to remove a rivet that holds the linkage assembly together,

replace the bushings and then re-assemble.

I had a hell of a time figuring out WHAT kind of linkage is in my car,

but dude at the Subaru parts department in LIC helped me. Cross fingers.

Gonna tackle that either tomorrow or over the weekend.

[Olnick]

Is the driver's side the left or right side??? . . . Next up for little stuff:

-Replace shifter bushings

 

Driver's side is left. Direction is properly given from the point of view of the driver while sitting in driving position.

 

Hate to rain on your parade but "Replace shifter bushings" is not "little stuff!" It can be a real PITA--but well worth the effort.

 

Good luck--keep up the great effort.

[tehP]

Driver's side is left.

Hate to rain on your parade but "Replace shifter bushings" is not "little stuff!" It can be a real PITA--but well worth the effort.

 

 

Thanks for the driver side clarification. Through all of the posts I've read, some people give the wrong side and THAT got me confused.

If you read enough conflicting information, the truth can become hazy sometimes.

 

I refer to the shifter bushings as "little stuff" not from a repair difficulty perspective, but from a larger "severity of issue" perspective.

The fact that I have a completely drivable vehicle that has an inconvenient amount of play in the shifter to me is "little stuff".

 

Do you have any advice for troubleshooting vacuum leak?

If i fire up a cigar, can I blow it into the PCV valve without breaking stuff?

Or can I spray soapy bubbles onto the hoses with the engine running without breaking stuff?

 

Gonna do the fuel filter too. Hopefully that will help to improve my MPG's from 10-12(!) . No CEL, no codes.

[tehP]

Forgot to ask again,

 

How do I know if my tie rod needs to be replaced? Can I determine that before I tear the front suspension apart? I don't have another car is the issue.

 

Here's a (poor quality) photo of my boot tear. It's ~2inches, and vertical on the Left power steering boot. I can see shiny, not-rusty tie rod inside. I don't see any grease, however. should I shoot some grease up in there for the time being?

 

https://p.twimg.com/AndFlIdCAAAfkpZ.jpg

 

Should I buy the inner+outer tie rod parts "just in case" to have on hand?

 

Or should I simply replace the "power steering gear boot" and put the old tie rod back on?

 

I don't mean to be a pest guys, and I really do read/search.

I know what parts are involved, their names, what they do, generally how to pull them off and put them back on.

But I'm working outside in a big city, in the cold, and with not a lot of experience. It really helps my confidence to hear from somebody whether I'm barking up the wrong tree or not

 

You guys' guidance has brought me a long way already-couldn't have got this far without USMB.

xox