3.0RB Power Steering Problem

[PUDZ RSC3.0RB]

As of last Wednesday morning power/steering system has decided to chuck a major wobbly.
System is pumping aerated fluid out the top of the reservoir and making a f-ing mess. Pretty sure its not S/C install related. The only part that has not been changed or thoroughly inspected are the pump O-rings. Another pump has also been tried.

Does anyone know if there could be a stuck valve or something in the steering rack and also some people are saying these systems are notorious to bleed and some the
opposite, that they are self bleeding with lock to lock turns

What a PITA this has been, with the local Subaru dealer being totally useless, which was not at all a surprise. Could tell the full dealer story but I couldn't be f***ed.

Have to see if we can get a p/s pump o-ring kit off a another local workshop who has Subaru history first up 2moro.

Any advice appreciated

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Cant sleep thinking about this. Is there any chance that the tension on the new longer Supercharger drive belt is too tight causing the pump shaft to ride heavy on one
side of the seal allowing air to enter the pump!!!!

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Hi Anson

Thanx for the PM. Ive attempted to reply but its telling me u have private message receipt turned off. Just letting u know. Photo of pulley set-up attached.

100_1230.JPG (197.78 KiB) Viewed 2799 times

Ill have to closely check the p/s pump pulley to s/c bracket gap 2moro as car is still at Japo workshop.

Regards Grant

[RX25SE]

the pump shaft to ride heavy on one
side of the seal allowing air to enter the pump!!!!

This is a known issue with Subaru and Honda.
Pumps have been know to fail (front seal sucking air) from merely tightening the belt. (my Gen III did this)

Was the other pump you tried a secondhand one or re-coed?


Screwbaru wanted $1100 for a new GenIII pump!!

[Tradewind]

the pump shaft to ride heavy on one
side of the seal allowing air to enter the pump!!!!

This is a known issue with Subaru and Honda.
Pumps have been know to fail (front seal sucking air) from merely tightening the belt. (my Gen III did this)

Was the other pump you tried a secondhand one or re-coed?


Screwbaru wanted $1100 for a new GenIII pump!!

Thats interesting indeed.

For such a mysterious problem (fluid aeration) it would seem one of few plausible answers

In the SC installed pic above you can see there is an even balance of load on the PS pulley/shaft - even better than stock which just pulls all one direction.

Maybe a new bearing and seal in the PS pump will rectify the aeration in this instance.

Subaru parts prices are INSANE. I wanted a new windscreen washer bottle pump for my 05 Impreza - $130 ,just for a pump!!! I bought 4 little bushes for gear shift linkage, they fit in palm of your hand easily - $169!!!

[RX25SE]

the pump shaft to ride heavy on one
side of the seal allowing air to enter the pump!!!!

This is a known issue with Subaru and Honda.
Pumps have been know to fail (front seal sucking air) from merely tightening the belt. (my Gen III did this)

Was the other pump you tried a secondhand one or re-coed?


Screwbaru wanted $1100 for a new GenIII pump!!

Thats interesting indeed.

For such a mysterious problem (fluid aeration) it would seem one of few plausible answers

In the SC installed pic above you can see there is an even balance of load on the PS pulley/shaft - even better than stock which just pulls all one direction.

Maybe a new bearing and seal in the PS pump will rectify the aeration in this instance.

Subaru parts prices are INSANE. I wanted a new windscreen washer bottle pump for my 05 Impreza - $130 ,just for a pump!!! I bought 4 little bushes for gear shift linkage, they fit in palm of your hand easily - $169!!!

From what I understand (I really need to read the w/shop manual ) the pump shaft runs on a bush which is the item that wears and Subaru can supply an o/haul kit but if the shaft is worn, an oversize bush is required. Having said that, I was quoted around $200 from a steering specialist for a reco c/over pump.
By comparison, a reco kit for the pump on my old Commodore was about $7 from Holden!

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Hey Lads

I have rectified the fluid aeration issue. Replaced the factory low pressure p/s hose with a more flexible fluid line from Pirtek which when installed thru the S/C mounting bracket only has 2 gentle bends which works fine. Also 2 new triton hose clamps each end and new O-rings to the low pressure hose pump mount and 22mm
bolt on the alternator side that holds the pump valve in place. Primed pump first by hand without the belt installed, then kicked her in the guts and hey presto, no
more sucking air and therefore no fluid aeration. Power steering worked but was very notchy on r/h turns.By the way all this was done with 2nd hand 2.5lt 4cyl pump installed. Unfortunately this pump has a different width pulley, 21mm compared to 3.0lt 6cyl 22.6mm. Didn't realise this difference initially only checked the overall diameters which were the same. This caused the new S/C belt to run over the very front edge of the 2.5lt pulley which was obviously a bad outcome and not conjusive to long belt life. BACK to the DRAWING BOARD.

So off with the charger and front bracket again to re-install the factory 3.0R p/s pump. BTW the rear bottom pump mounting bolt(the long one) is a real PITA to remove,
if u have to do it ull know what I mean.

All good with the 3.0R pump installed and car up and running, no fluid aeration or pump noises. But guess what - power steering not working at all now. WTF

Rechecked new O-rings for fitment, they were good but now seems as though the p/s pump spring loaded relief valve is stuck in and not releasing. F***k so frustrated
at this point - What next. It was 5.30pm by now and im over it so it can wait til 2moro or maybe Friday.

Anyone had this relief valve issue ?

BTW thanx for the previous replys and ideas on my p/s issues.

Cheers All
Grant

[Tradewind]

Grant

See if anything changes with a first start of the day today -

I have just done a similar thing to a VZ V6 Commodore reservoir which I had to move while I worked on the vehicle, the first time I refilled it and started car I had all kinds of noises and substandard operation. Started it next day and it was nearly perfect, used it again day after - just like new.

[RX25SE]

@ Grant
Can you fit the 3.0R pulley to the 2.5i pump?

@Tim
Sounds like the air settled overnight into one big bubble, then pushed into the reservoir on start up.

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Tim
Had my toes crossed on start up this morning after getting your early post. But no luck again, valve still stuck and no p/s.

RX25SE
We tried to change the pulleys yesterday arvo, they were extremely tight may have been loctited from the factory. Was worried that any more force may break or
distort things.

The valve in the 2nd hand pump appears to be working fine so my next move is to remove the 3.0R pump again and dismantle it to swap the valves.
Hopefully ill get to do this on Friday morning. After the valve swap all bases will have been covered so if its still a negative result will probably look into a reco pump.

Cheers Lads