Repair or replace?

[SUBARU3]

When mid 90's Legacys/Imprezas have a powersteering/rack leak, is it easier to replace or repair? The leaks are at the boots, where they meet the rack casing. (or live with it)

 

Less than 70K on one and less than 90 K on the other.

 

Thanks!

 

Todd

[lmdew]

Replace it, good used ones are easy to grab at the yard.

 

When you hook up the hard lines, make sure the oring is in good shape and unclamp the flex lines and hook them one at a time. Easy to cross thread, so start them by hand.

[Reveeen]

Replace.

 

Leaks at the (dust) boots are a sign of an internal leak, to be honest I have never re-built a rack, but understand that an internal leak is usually caused by ram/cylinder scoring, stuff you can't fix "at home".

[nipper]

Replace. Even professional machine shops shudder at rebuilding a rack, when its just so much easier to get a used one.

 

and cheaper.

 

nipper

[davebugs]

I know this has been posted before - I have posted it myself.

 

I've had terrific luck with Lucas Power steering fluid.

 

The dealer my girlfriend uses (close to her home) suggested a used rack instead of rebuilt. They said the rebuilts that they had installed had no better odds than the used. And you can't afford a Subaru rack.

 

Hers was leaking from where the boots used to be - at like 160-180k. A 96 Impreza.

 

I dumped a bottle of Lucas in. Never needed to add anymore fluid until the car was totalled at 240k.

 

Lucas PS is my favorite product of theirs. Though I do like the tranny stuff and fuel injection cleaner. I also use the oil additive in some of my cars. I see bobtheoilguy doesn't care for it so much.

 

Anyway for probably less than 10 bucks its' worth a shot - it's worked for me particularly well with Sub's.

 

Dave

[SUBARU3]

Well, that answers that question!

 

I'll try Lucas 1st and then proceed from there. I hate to go used and then end up again with a leaker. I guess racks age by years, as well as mileage. These cars have pretty low mileage.

 

I have found rebuilt racks for $187. Good deal?

 

Todd

[lmdew]

You Pull it Yards $35 or so and if they leak, most have 30 day exchanges. You can drop one in about 30 minutes, and Install in another 30.

[subeman90]

my garage man swears by Lucas PS fluid. He uses it in the postal cars since the racks for them are so expensive and hard to come by.

[johnceggleston]

my garage man swears by Lucas PS fluid. He uses it in the postal cars since the racks for them are so expensive and hard to come by.

 

i guess with the rack already on the way out, it doesn't matter that the power steering uses ATF (95-99).

[SUBARU3]

Oh I love the Gen 1 racks! They last forever!

 

Todd

[frag]

i guess with the rack already on the way out, it doesn't matter that the power steering uses ATF (95-99).

 

I have always been using Mobil 1 synthetic ATF in my power steering and it seems to work perfectly (been more than six years now).

[unibrook]

I used Lucas in my leaking Saab 1989 9000 when its pw started squealing. Worked perfectly, never needed to add more, drove it that way for years.