When you own a car like a Subaru, it provides numerous reasons to appreciate it, including its high reliability, fun-to-drive nature, and ability to excel in every road condition, whether it’s city traffic, off-roading, or long highway runs. However, like any car, your Subaru can experience issues over time, and one of them is a steering rack leak.
This component usually converts the rotational motion of the steering wheel into the linear, crosswise movement of your car’s front wheels. However, the tricky part is that when it starts developing leaks, they don’t come out at first and gradually worsen. So, if you learn how to spot them early, you can avoid bigger and costly repairs and unsafe steering down the line. Wanna know how to diagnose your Subaru’s leaky steering rack? Stick to the end of this blog to learn about the same in detail.
Typical Causes of Your Subaru Steering Rack Leaks
- Faulty Seals: The steering rack is equipped with rubber seals that prevent the fluid from escaping and keep it securely within the system. However, over time, those seals wear down due to heat, aging, and regular usage, losing their grip. This, in turn, allows the fluid to leakout, and as a result, you may see puddles or stains under your car while it is parked or hear a strange whining sound just after turning the steering wheel.
- Contaminated Fluid: Just like the engine and transmission, the steering system also depends on a clean power steering fluid to keep its internal parts functioning smoothly. However, when grit, moisture, or metal particles enter the system, the fluid becomes rough and feels like liquid sandpaper. Continue driving with that kind of dirty fluid can ruin the seals and speed up leaks. If the steering fluid appears dark, foamy, or has a burnt smell, that can be a significant warning sign. Apart from these warning signs, you may also hear abnormal noises while making sharp turns in the corners.
- Damaged Rack Housing: Sometimes the problem isn’t the seals at all; it’s the rack itself. Road debris, rust, or even a brutal hit from a pothole can crack or bend the metal housing. And once that happens, the fluid makes its way to escape. As a result of this, you can see bigger puddles, faster fluid loss, and steering that suddenly feels unresponsive.
How Do We Troubleshoot Your Subaru’s Leaky Steering Rack?
- Check the Power Steering Fluid:If you see reddish-brown puddles or stains under your Subaru, especially towards its front side, that might be the power steering fluid. This fluid is thinner and slicker than engine oil, and it smells different as well. You mustn’t ignore this, even if it’s just a few drops, because it could start as a small leak, but it might grow and increase the complications over time. In this case, you should seek our professional assistance to confirm whether the leak is in the steering rack or something else.
- Feel the Power Steering Wheel: Your vehicle’s steering wheel should turn seamlessly and steadily. However, if it suddenly starts feeling heavy or jerky, or becomes difficult to steer than usual, likely that the rack isn’t getting enough fluid to operate. When you ignore this and continue driving, you may not feel a massive difference while driving, but once you try to park your car, it will feel like you are working out. Don’t wait for it to get that bad, because this kind of stiffness in your Subaru’s steering wheel can be a warning sign that points directly to a fluid leak, which may be located at the steering rack.
- Pay Attention While You Steer:Turn the steering wheel with the radio off and windows down. If you hear unusual whining, squealing, or groaning noises, it can be a clear indication that the pump is struggling to operate because the system lacks sufficient This, in turn, means the fluid is escaping from somewhere, which might be the leaky steering rack. However, the worst part is that by the time you hear these dreaded noises, the leak has already progressed so far that the pump is on its last legs. It’s your car’s way of telling you that its power steering system needs treatment before the damage gets expensive.
Why Should You Bring Your Subaru to Us for Its Steering Rack Leak Diagnosis and Repair?
At our Dieter’s Porsche & BMW Service, we have been helping Subaru owners for decades, and steering rack leaks are one of those concerns that our experts have diagnosed and fixed many times. We identify the actual cause, whether it’s seals, fluid, or the rack itself, and utilize high-quality parts and our extensive experience to repair or replace the faulty components. The best part is we always walk you through the repair so you know exactly what’s going on. If you are in San Diego, CA, and your Subaru is displaying the above warning signs of a steering rack leak, schedule an appointment with us and address the issue before it becomes a safety risk.