Subaru power steering noise Hello everyone, I have a friend at work who is having some issues with her subaru Forester. Here is the email she sent me. Does anyone have an idea of what could be the issue? Hey Mike. I’m still having issues with my power steering making noise. We have bled it several times. My husband did it again on Sunday. He said he jacked it up and turned the wheel lock to lock about 10 times and then went out and drove it and no change so he said he did it again. In all he says he turned the wheel about 50 times. He took it to a mechanic yesterday and he said the only thing he could think would be some valve in the side of the pump but we traded the old one with the one from the rebuilt I had. We have put 2 separate pumps on it and it continues to do the same thing. He went to Subaru to find out if he could get the valve but they said you can’t get it but alldata says you can and I found it on line. Very frustrating. I know you’re busy but at one point when we talked you told me you had friends who race Subarus. Do you think you could talk to them and see if they have ever had this problem or heard of it and if they have any ideas or do you know a really good mechanic up here in town who could maybe diagnose it? The mechanic in Lancaster said there isn’t much to the steering system, just the pump, reservoir and lines. I will say that after he did the bleeding on Sunday the steering isn’t as stiff but he says there are still air bubbles in the reservoir and still maintains that the churning of the fluid in the reservoir could be causing the bubbles. https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94181#msg-94181 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:36:51 -0500 Phorum 5.2.15a https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94541#msg-94541 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94541#msg-94541


Yahoo!!!! Funny what a little $2 O-ring can fix. Just thought you’d like to know my care isn’t making noise anymore. Thanks for turning me on to that website for Subaru owners. It was a really good one]]> BlackWidow Off Topic Tue, 18 Feb 2014 15:05:37 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94308#msg-94308 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94308#msg-94308
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NoCoast
Damn it Toby.
Spoon feed coming...




Pretty sure it's been a common and big TV and radio ad campaign. I don't watch TV either and I hear it.

Also makes for some fun poking at people when they post a picture of a holed block or any other issue they have had with their Subaru, "It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru."

That was quite-possibly the stupidest commercial I have ever seen. It was like a cash-for-clunkers ad, only without the taxpayer-rapeoff.

"Two days of driving; I wanted to leave this perfectly-fucking-fine, well-running automobile under a tree in the middle of a field so people could pick parts off it..."

Dude, just give me the fucking keys. Ima take care of your "problem" for you.

Of course, if it WAS NOT running well, two days of driving might be from the gate to the middle of the pasture, I dunno. Never owned a Bluebaru. Might be like a OCC "Ride" that takes them 4 days to ride the 150-miles to Stuuuurrrgis-Yo.]]> Creech Off Topic Sat, 08 Feb 2014 08:15:56 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94297#msg-94297 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94297#msg-94297
Thanks.]]> Iowa999 Off Topic Fri, 07 Feb 2014 19:33:55 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94289#msg-94289 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94289#msg-94289 Spoon feed coming...




Pretty sure it's been a common and big TV and radio ad campaign. I don't watch TV either and I hear it.

Also makes for some fun poking at people when they post a picture of a holed block or any other issue they have had with their Subaru, "It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru."]]> NoCoast Off Topic Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:00:00 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94287#msg-94287 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94287#msg-94287 Iowa999 Off Topic Fri, 07 Feb 2014 17:32:24 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94286#msg-94286 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94286#msg-94286
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Iowa999
If your lovers make noises like a Scooby's power-steering pump, you're doing it wrong. Just sayin'.

You've obviously not seen (or heard) enough Subaru commercials.]]> NoCoast Off Topic Fri, 07 Feb 2014 17:19:34 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94284#msg-94284 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94284#msg-94284 Iowa999 Off Topic Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:05:15 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94263#msg-94263 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94263#msg-94263 NoCoast Off Topic Thu, 06 Feb 2014 23:51:26 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94260#msg-94260 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94260#msg-94260 Iowa999 Off Topic Thu, 06 Feb 2014 20:07:42 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94259#msg-94259 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94259#msg-94259
This one of those with the reservoir way off in the fenderwell lower than the pump?

Good trick for bleeding a P/S system - don't start the engine. Before you put the belt on, turn the pump with a drill. It's fast enough to move fluid through but slow enough that you can STOP before the reservoir gets low enough to suck fluid.

But my money's on an air leak somewhere in the inlet hose.]]> Pete Off Topic Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:56:34 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94258#msg-94258 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94258#msg-94258
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Iowa999
Has anyone messed with the shroud over the belts lately? If so, make sure that the shroud is centered in the slack so that it never yanks on the bolt that both holds the shroud and also connects the return pipe to the pump.


Check this. I killed a lot of time chasing power steering noise on out outback. Finally removed and reinstalled the shroud and fixed. Bumped changing an air filter.]]> mothra Off Topic Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:13:48 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94208#msg-94208 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94208#msg-94208
If someone asked me about this noise the first thing I would say is send a sound file, or a video with sound, or a web link to that sound or video/sound file.]]> Jens Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:55:50 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94203#msg-94203 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94203#msg-94203
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heymagic
Pardon the interruption...Subaru has an o-ring that fails on the suction side of the pump. Sucks air causing a buzzing groaning noise. Often you can press on the plastic fitting on the back of the pump and change the noise. I believe two bolts and a small standard o-ring (nothing wierd). We've fixed several late model Subes with this problem. Quick fix.

Isn't this is the same issue as the shroud? The vibrations and yanks from the shroud are what cause the O-ring not to seal.]]> Iowa999 Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 14:45:04 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94201#msg-94201 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94201#msg-94201
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john vanlandingham
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BlackWidow
Full lock ----touch---other way. Never let the fluid get low---and aerate.

also: some pumps are just noisier.

MIght get those steel air bb's....

Check valve she is talking about was a TSB item, symptom was groaning at full lock.... probrably not the problem.

I vaguely remember something about a bleed valve to the brake booster.... 15$ hose has a check valve in it... something something. ..

here is something close http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f88/power-steering-funky-noise-61918/

Side note what happened to being able to search google for discussions?

We had an 04 xt that had issues with the automatic trans selector doohicky. another seemed like that was another common problem. Don't remember what the fix for that was either.]]> aj_johnson Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 14:23:10 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94199#msg-94199 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94199#msg-94199 heymagic Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 14:14:27 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94198#msg-94198 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94198#msg-94198
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BlackWidow
Her response on the question about holding the wheel in the turned position

He said he just turned it and did not hold it in place. I know my dad said the only way he knew to bleed the power steering on older cars was to turn it lock to lock holding it in place until the noise went away. Still waiting on response about shroud.

Yeah hold the steering on the stops till the noise goes away---when the pump seizes, or the belt breaks....
Full lock ----touch---other way. Never let the fluid get low---and aerate.

also: some pumps are just noisier.]]> john vanlandingham Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 13:42:04 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94197#msg-94197 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94197#msg-94197
He said he just turned it and did not hold it in place. I know my dad said the only way he knew to bleed the power steering on older cars was to turn it lock to lock holding it in place until the noise went away. Still waiting on response about shroud.]]> BlackWidow Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 12:41:14 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94196#msg-94196 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94196#msg-94196 Iowa999 Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 12:35:42 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94194#msg-94194 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94194#msg-94194
http://allwheeldriveauto.com/why-is-the-power-steering-making-noise-on-my-subaru-outback/

The above is the website i showed her last month.]]> BlackWidow Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 12:21:33 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94193#msg-94193 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94193#msg-94193 Iowa999 Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 12:05:44 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94192#msg-94192 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94192#msg-94192

When I turn the wheel. When I’m going straight it doesn’t “moan”. I my opinion it is worse when I turn left. When we jacked it up the first time and turned the wheel it didn’t make any noise. I don’t know about Sunday.]]> BlackWidow Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 12:01:34 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94191#msg-94191 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94191#msg-94191
I do know that they pulled one from a scrap yard when the original pump went out. after they installed it it was making noise ( I think all the time: confriming that ) they figured it was the pump they had gotten and had it replaced with another pump form the scrap yard. So the pump that is in there is not the orignal one. Any way i will try to get better details.]]> BlackWidow Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 11:59:52 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94188#msg-94188 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94188#msg-94188
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BlackWidow
She said that the fluid has been changed twice. Also its a Outback not a Forester if that changes any thing.

Thanks for the reply

But we don't know:
what is the correct fluid according to manual
What they had in it
what they now have in it
if they purged right
if they refilled right
if they do or don't hold at full lock for xxxx time or not..

We know we have a lotta known unknowns and a lotta unknown knowns.]]> john vanlandingham Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 11:40:59 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94186#msg-94186 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94186#msg-94186 BJosephD Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 11:33:23 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94185#msg-94185 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94185#msg-94185
Thanks for the reply]]> BlackWidow Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 11:21:12 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94182#msg-94182 Re: Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94182#msg-94182 john vanlandingham Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 11:02:50 -0600 https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94181#msg-94181 Subaru power steering noise https://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,94181,94181#msg-94181
I have a friend at work who is having some issues with her subaru Forester. Here is the email she sent me. Does anyone have an idea of what could be the issue?

Hey Mike. I’m still having issues with my power steering making noise. We have bled it several times. My husband did it again on Sunday. He said he jacked it up and turned the wheel lock to lock about 10 times and then went out and drove it and no change so he said he did it again. In all he says he turned the wheel about 50 times. He took it to a mechanic yesterday and he said the only thing he could think would be some valve in the side of the pump but we traded the old one with the one from the rebuilt I had. We have put 2 separate pumps on it and it continues to do the same thing. He went to Subaru to find out if he could get the valve but they said you can’t get it but alldata says you can and I found it on line. Very frustrating.

I know you’re busy but at one point when we talked you told me you had friends who race Subarus. Do you think you could talk to them and see if they have ever had this problem or heard of it and if they have any ideas or do you know a really good mechanic up here in town who could maybe diagnose it? The mechanic in Lancaster said there isn’t much to the steering system, just the pump, reservoir and lines.

I will say that after he did the bleeding on Sunday the steering isn’t as stiff but he says there are still air bubbles in the reservoir and still maintains that the churning of the fluid in the reservoir could be causing the bubbles.]]> BlackWidow Off Topic Tue, 04 Feb 2014 10:55:24 -0600