Hey guys, just looking for some advice on my car. Recently I had an oil leak on the crank which the seal was replaced. During that repair somehow the steering was affected. Immediately after the seal repair the car shook when steering. It was assumed that air got into the system somehow. After some fiddling around we replaced the pump and seals. Bled the system and on the way. Each time the car started the steering felt dead. So we started to tear it apart more to figure out what was going on. There was a small leak found on the rack. So the rack was replaced. Again more steering issues the next day. Now the new pump sounded bad. So we replaced the pump and the hoses as well. Bleeding this thing out is quite a pain in the butt. So now after replacing everything in the steering system, I still have the dead feel when I start the car in the morning. I'm assuming it's air in the system, but how and why? Is there any special trick to bleeding the system? We've done it in the air. Back and forth. Let it sit. Do it again. And repeat.
Start the car, turn the wheel lock to lock, that should get virtually all the air out. I'm sure many on here know your car, but I don't...Stock crank pulley? Mileage? I've heard of the crank pulley separating, and the outer part slipping on the inner badly enough to effect the accessories, although you'd probably have a battery light on as well. It's super easy to check, though. Use white-out to draw a line across the face of the pulley, and then you have a quick reference to see if the 2 parts are slipping.
It has GS lightened crank pulley. It's been on there for over a year. 113k on it and new timing belt about a year ago.
Done this over and over again. Both with the car off and on. Both in the air and on the ground. Still end up with a dead steering feeling after the car sits for a while, like over night.
Well...there goes that theory. That's a one-piece pulley, and you'd have other symptoms if that was spinning, or if the belt was slipping. And if you've done that a few times, I don't think you have air stuck in the system. What is your car? Where did the "new" power steering pump(s) come from?
2008 WRX. Pump is reman from Autozone and rack is reman from Napa. We got a bad pump from Autozone. It was loud. It was swapped when the new OEM hoses were done.
Should be decent enough. New O-ring for the flange where the supply hose attaches to the pump? Looks like that flange isn't included with the AZ pump, so you probably would have had to swap it. I know when that leaks, the pump can pull air.
Tried a new ORM o-ring and a u-shaped banjo crush washer. Still has a problem. I'm at a loss... Here is what the steering does after sitting overnight. http://vid255.photobucket.com/albums/hh129/predavore/Cars/WRX/VID_20160227_154004_zpssoyr54yy.mp4
http://vid255.photobucket.com/albums/hh129/predavore/Cars/WRX/VID_20160228_155320_zpsxqluysci.mp4 Got this going right now... trying to bleed it out by going back and forth with the wheels in the air and engine off.
So here's where it's at. I still have it in the air. I've been going back and forth quite a while then letting it sit and doing it again. Still has that squishy sound. I fired it up and moved the wheels back and forth several times. Shut it off. Then moved the wheels back and forth to see if the sound is there. It's gone. But then shows back up after about 2-3 lock to lock turns.
And of course... the jittery wheel issue is back. But the dead wheel issue wasn't as bad this morning, still totally unacceptable, but not as bad.
Ok, so problem located, just need to know how to fix. Apparently the steering gear preload adjustment bolt is either loose or broken. So is this something that can be fixed? Or is a rack replacement necessary (again). Also, is that something that needs to be looked at or adjusted before installation if it's a reman rack? Or are they preset during reman process?
Post up what you find out. I am having this EXACT same issue to a T. I have done every single thing you have. Very frustrating. I have an 06 STI I thought for sure I was sucking air in somewhere but there are never any bubbles present in my res. DAMNIT!
Page 5 of this document (marked as PS-21) gives a slight description of the backlash adjustment screw location (that is the rack disassembly section). Page 11 (PS-27) describes setting it correctly.
