power steering woes

[green97gt]

hey guys. took a look under the wifes hood(haha) and just the other day i had pressure washed the engine bay, trying to isolate the leaks(plural) let her run it around for a few days, now when i look at the motor right behind/under the power steering pump is a puddle of red fluid, i cant see an of the hoses/fittings leaking, only thing i can figure is the pump itself is leaking, maybe from the bottom, cause i cant see any leaks that would cause this type of puddle.

am i looking at replacing the pump? or did i miss something?

thanks fellas! :smt026

[SpeedmanRC]

My dad's 98 GT is doing the same thing...and I can't really find the leak. My best bet right now is the seal between the overflow and pump is leaking. but once it stops raining I'll be looking at it again.

[T_F_E]

mine does too, I have a puddle it just drinks a little fluid every month or so.

[SpeedmanRC]

well my dad has ordered the seal between the overflow and pump, I'll change that out once it arrives here. I'll let you know how it goes and if it stops. the seal and shipping was under 10 bucks.

[warrior]

Don't have to replace your pump, you just need to rebuild it. Subaru sells a rebuild kit for like $60 with all new seals and what not. You'll need to remove the pump and have some mechanical knowledge as the pump is a little tricky in the way it operates but it'll be good as new after that :smt023

[Benfolio]

Mine was leaking from the front shaft seal back when I first got my BD. Just bought a new used pump at a junkyard for $20 and slapped it on. Been leak free and problem free ever since.

[SkunkworksGT]

Hate to bring this back from the dead but mine just started having this problem. Does this process require bleeding the system? If so, how? TIA

[green97gt]

i diddnt bleed anything... like speedmanrc mentioned. mine was leaking from the oring/gasket between the pump and reservior. i replaces that, and all was well.

you loose a bit of fluid, i sucked mine out with a vacuum pump, then added some, turned the steering wheel from end to end. added some fluid, did it agian. smiler to a flush only your not sucking out the old fluid.

depending on your year/model(i believe?) you will take the support bracket bolt out of the rear of the reservoir, then wonder why the reservoir doesnt come off.

there is a bolt on the inside of the reservior, right in the center, you have to take out the filter that you see when you undo the cap and use an extension and according socket, stick it straight down into the reservoir and remove that bolt as well..

i found my vacuum pump very handy for this.

[SkunkworksGT]

Thanks for the reply! I'll try it out when I get the opportunity for garage time (hopefully this week). I can only wish my other car boards can be as helpful... :smt023