Ok, so I'm picking up a newer steering rack, and I am getting a power steering pump with the deal.
I know that my power steering pump needs to be rebuilt, and I'm considering just doing that, but I was also curious what the differences in the pumps were through the years. I know that the threading specifics changed a little, and eventually they moved the reservoir off the top of the pump.
Does any one know what if there were pressure differences through the years and models? Also, the GC's and up pumps had an electrical connector if I am correct, where ours did not. Does that connection affect the functionality of the pump at all, and if so what would be the drawbacks from using a pump that had one but not plugging it in?
If anyone wants to chime in with a thesis on how these pumps work, that is fine by me as well as I don't fully understand how they work, or what can be done to modify or alter their stock performance for more or less pressure, or whatever else. I hear about shims being adapted and such.
I'm doing research as well, but anything that could be added to my knowledge from the board would be appreciated.
Power Steering pump differences
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Power Steering pump differences
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Re: Power Steering pump differences
I would also like to know all about subarus different pumps and how hard/expensive it is to rebuild one. My power steering sucks but I don't know if its the pump or the lines because they go a little kinked and I straightened them out but they're a bit flattened still. Anymore messing with them and they'll surely break so I need to replace them with aftermarket braided hydraulic hose eventually. If I try to make really quick turns like you would in autox the steering nearly locks up. It gets super hard to turn for a second. Not good. Daily driving you never notice it but it doesn't like sharp fast turns.
I have a wrx pump with hoses and remote resetvoir too I might use one day but I'd have to get custom lines because the threads won't fit my lines.
I have a wrx pump with hoses and remote resetvoir too I might use one day but I'd have to get custom lines because the threads won't fit my lines.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
Re: Power Steering pump differences
Have you seen my thread here?
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=24143
There is valving that controls output pressure. It's controlled via a spring. In theory you could reduce the spring force to reduce the amount of output pressure to the steering rack and increase resistance.
I'm not very familiar with the electrical connector pumps, but those could serve two purposes, one is to provide the ECU info when pump is under load so it can adjust the idle speed, or two it could be used to adjust pressure when the car is above a certain speed to improve steering feel, but still provide good assist when parking, etc.
Regarding your auto-x issue, I would suggest checking your PS belt and belt tension.
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=24143
There is valving that controls output pressure. It's controlled via a spring. In theory you could reduce the spring force to reduce the amount of output pressure to the steering rack and increase resistance.
I'm not very familiar with the electrical connector pumps, but those could serve two purposes, one is to provide the ECU info when pump is under load so it can adjust the idle speed, or two it could be used to adjust pressure when the car is above a certain speed to improve steering feel, but still provide good assist when parking, etc.
Regarding your auto-x issue, I would suggest checking your PS belt and belt tension.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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Re: Power Steering pump differences
Ill check the belt but I think its the lines restricting flow or the pump that's 190,000 miles old. I have yet to do autocross I'm just saying if I were the steering would just about lock up on me.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
Re: Power Steering pump differences
Kimo - I read a post on nasioc where a guy was saying that he had a newer rack, but was using his stock GC pump. He was having some of the problems you are mentioned I believe. He said that he was also running an UOR underdrive crank pully. He felt that the under driven pully affected his pumps ability to work effectively with the rack.
Josh - thanks for the reminder of you post. I think I've read it before a while ago. I'll read up on it again. You haven't had any experience with or know anyone that has run a newer power steering pump on our cars without using the electrical connection?
I don't know if that applies to you fully or not, but there you have it.With the underdrive pully I would get a kind of kickback from the steering at near full lock. IE the pump wasn't flowing enough for the increased ratio of the STI rack. I switched the underdrive pully for a stock crank pulley and the problem was solved.
Josh - thanks for the reminder of you post. I think I've read it before a while ago. I'll read up on it again. You haven't had any experience with or know anyone that has run a newer power steering pump on our cars without using the electrical connection?
91 Pearl White Sport Sedan
04 Java Black Pearl Forester XT
2014 Volvo S60 T5
18 KTM 1290 Adventure S
87 Grey GL-10 Sedan (so long old buddy) - donated
97 Toyota 4Runner SR5 - sold
2002 BMW r1150rt-p - sold
2004 BMW r1200ST - sold
2016 BMW r1200RS - sold
04 Java Black Pearl Forester XT
2014 Volvo S60 T5
18 KTM 1290 Adventure S
87 Grey GL-10 Sedan (so long old buddy) - donated
97 Toyota 4Runner SR5 - sold
2002 BMW r1150rt-p - sold
2004 BMW r1200ST - sold
2016 BMW r1200RS - sold
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Re: Power Steering pump differences
If you're going to attempt the pump rebuild yourself, read through the thread Josh posted thoroughly, even multiple times if you have to.
Though they may not seem complicated, they're easy to screw up... I had to redo mine twice before I got it right
I recall the pumps changing either for 92 or 93; the shaft bearing and seal got larger and the body did as well to accommodate them. So if you're going to replace the bearing (they come as a shaft/bearing assembly from Subaru) it might be a good idea to find out exactly what car it came off of.
I've never seen a US 1st-gen Legacy pump that was able to vary fluid pressure electrically. If you have a pump with a switch on it, like Josh said, it's probably to signal the ECU that the fluid pressure is rising so it can adjust the idle accordingly. But if your car isn't so equipped, then you can just leave the switch there unplugged and it won't hurt anything.
Though they may not seem complicated, they're easy to screw up... I had to redo mine twice before I got it right
I recall the pumps changing either for 92 or 93; the shaft bearing and seal got larger and the body did as well to accommodate them. So if you're going to replace the bearing (they come as a shaft/bearing assembly from Subaru) it might be a good idea to find out exactly what car it came off of.
I've never seen a US 1st-gen Legacy pump that was able to vary fluid pressure electrically. If you have a pump with a switch on it, like Josh said, it's probably to signal the ECU that the fluid pressure is rising so it can adjust the idle accordingly. But if your car isn't so equipped, then you can just leave the switch there unplugged and it won't hurt anything.
2000 Subaru Legacy B4 RSK
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"Der Wahnsinn ist nur eine schmale Brücke/die Ufer sind Vernunft und Trieb"
*Formerly DerFahrer*
@entirelyturbo on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok
Re: Power Steering pump differences
No I haven't had any experience with any of the newer pumps without the electrical connector hooked up. I can try looking through some of the newer factory service manuals to see if I can determine exactly what the electrical switch does.georryan wrote:Josh - thanks for the reminder of you post. I think I've read it before a while ago. I'll read up on it again. You haven't had any experience with or know anyone that has run a newer power steering pump on our cars without using the electrical connection?
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
Re: Power Steering pump differences
DerFahrer wrote:I recall the pumps changing either for 92 or 93; the shaft bearing and seal got larger and the body did as well to accommodate them. So if you're going to replace the bearing (they come as a shaft/bearing assembly from Subaru) it might be a good idea to find out exactly what car it came off of.
Based on my experience and the factory parts book, there is no difference in the shaft bearing or seal on the first gen Legaciy PS pumps. They're all the same. There are some wafer type springs only on the 90-92 MY's, but everything else is the same.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm