legacycentral bbs

Hey can anyone recommend to me a good Subaru/Legacy SS mechanic in the Los Angeles area?

I just moved to the mountains and my PS pump doesn't seem to like the hairpins.

Thanks,

Willie

which mountains?

I found that steering rack bushings cured that 'halting' feeling when you had to saw back and forth on the wheel, is that the problem?

i just moved to Topanga on Tuna Canyon Road. my spot is about ten minutes off of PCH.

so the other night i was taking an uphill hairpin and tried to power through the middle of it and my car let out a whine (kind of like when you're in a parking lot and someone locks up their steering rack and keeps turning--think old Ford Taurus). for the next mile or so the power steering was noticeably louder through the turns.

today it remains noticably louder when i turn the wheel and seems to be affecting idle and kind of bogs the engine (ever so slightly) when turning and starting off.

what do you think? i'm thinking i should get it looked asap given that the pump runs off the engine--and getting a tow from anywhere near where i live would really suck...

i wish my PS pump could die quietly just like my ABS

To my knowledge the pumps are pretty cheap. maybe it would be good insurance to just replace it.

I think Josh (Legacy777) did a write up on rebuilding one. do a search and see what comes up. If he sees this he will most likely give you a hand too.

There is a rebuild kit with new bushings and seals. I bought a new bearing and pressed it on the existing shaft. If the pump is in good condition, and the vanes aren't damaged you should be able to rebuild it and have it be pretty much brand new. However without taking it apart, it'd be hard to say if anything internally is damaged.

Can you be a little more descriptive as for the issues with your steering other then it doesn't like the hair pins?

so i checked my PS fluid level last week and i knew it was a bit low...i stopped at lunch to get some ATF.

what i didn't realize is that the reservior has a tight metal mesh filter in it, which holds a bit of fluid in the bottom. before i thought the mesh filter was a cylinder, the bottom of it being the fluid level. that would have made me about a half ounce low.

i was VERY wrong, my PS fluid was a third of a quart low and i feel like a dummy.

now my PS whine has gone away at slow speeds. there's still a little shudder, but i figure that's just due to air bubbles that will work themselves out.

now...time to find the leak. i'm pretty sure it's behind the oil pan/engine where those PS lines have nuts that are a total bitch to access.

but I'm still looking for a good mechanic in the LA area

Find a mechanic yet? Aerosim in Costa Mesa, Suby Specialties in Monrovia, and Big Valley Subaru in Van Nuys are all pretty well recommended in the SCIC at nasioc. There are a couple of other places like Chaste Auto, which I think might not be in Pomona any more, and Harman Motive that you could also check out.