Power Steering Squealing

[jmcdowell]

The power steering on my 2000 Outback Legacy squeals like crazy when I turn my steering wheel from left to right. I thought that my fluid level might be low but am now wondering if the unit might need to be replaced.

Has anyone else had this problem and what was needed to fix the problem??

Thanks for your time.

[T_F_E]

Check the tightness on the belt, it seems like the unit could be going bad hard to say from here.

[decke48]

try filling with fluid run the car up to 2500rpm turn the wheel lock to lock about 20 times. check the fluid level fill if needed. see if the problem goes away. and said check the belt for no-metalic shine and tightness. if its the belt sometimes you can get away with dressing the belt. just run a bar of soap on the rib side of the belt well running just be careful of the fan and moving parts

[KAG]

Do you also hear a loud moaning sound on idle? My car had the same thing and I cured it by running some Lucas Power Steering conditioner through it. I was amazed, it really shut it up and there was no more squealing.

[Legacy89]

Can this be my problem too?

At low rpm the steering is hard and it makes a nasty noise. Also on idle it sounds pretty bad.

On highway speeds it sounds fine.

[Legacy89]

Checked the fluid level, it was on min-cold. Filled up to cold-max. Didn't help.

What do you think?

pump? belt? or something else? it sounds weird on low rpm (500-1000) but the second i up the rpm it sort of spinn up and disappear and the steering gets lighter. Also i got a ugly sound at full left/right that i did not have before.

[Okin DaVanh]

Check the tightness on the belt.


I agree.

I have a loose tensioner and it squeals at times. I would check the tension on the belt and associated pulleys "IF" the belt itself is fairly new.

[Legacy89]

Just checked my power steering, and there are pools of power steering fluid on top of the block. What has most likely broke? Gaskets?
Im getting some Stop-Leak for power steering tomorrow. If that works its just a small gasket leak but if not there is another problem.

There is also fluid on the bonnet and just about the entire engine bay.