Pipe Assembly: Inspection

Check all disassembled parts for wear, damage or other abnormalities. Repair or replace defective parts as necessary.

PARTS SPECIFICATION

Parts	Maintenance Parts	Corrective action
Pipe	O-ring fitting surface for damage Nut for damage Pipe for damage	Replace with a new one.
Clamp	Clamps for weak clamping force	Replace with a new one.
Hose	Flare surface for damage Flare nut for damage Outer surface for cracks Outer surface for wear Clip for damage End coupling or adapter for deformation	Replace with a new one.

CAUTION: Although surface layer materials of rubber hoses have excellent weathering resistance, heat resistance and resistance for low temperature brittleness, they are likely to be damaged chemically by brake fluid, battery electrolyte, engine oil and automatic transmission fluid and their service lives are to be very shortened. Wipe out immediately when the hoses are adhered with the fluids.
Since resistances for heat or low temperature brittleness are gradually declining according to time accumulation of hot or cold conditions for the hoses and their service lives are shortening accordingly, it is necessary to perform careful inspection frequently when the vehicle is used in hot weather areas, cold weather areas and a driving condition in which many steering operations are required in short time.
Particularly continuous work of relief valve over 5 seconds causes to reduce service lives of the hoses, the oil pump, the fluid, etc. due to over heat.

PROBLEM SYMPTOM CHART

Trouble	Possible cause	Corrective action
Pressure hose burst	Excessive holding time of relief status	Instruct customers
	Malfunction of relief valve	Replace oil pump.
	Poor cold characteristic of fluid	Replace fluid
Forced out return hose	Poor connection	Repair.
	Poor holding of clip	Retighten.
	Poor cold characteristic of fluid	Replace fluid.
Fluid bleeding out of hose slightly	Wrong layout, tension	Replace hose.
	Excessive play of engine due to deterioration of engine mounting rubber	Replace the parts if defective.
	Improper stop position of pitching stopper	Replace the parts if defective.
Crack on hose	Excessive holding time of relief status	Replace. Instruct customers.
	Excessive tightening torque of return hose clip	Replace.
	Power steering fluid, engine oil, electrolyte adhere on the hose surface	Replace. Pay attention on service work.
	Too many times use in extremely cold weather	Replace. Instruct customers.

NOTE: It is likely that although one judges fluid leakage, there is actually no leakage. This is because the fluid split during the last maintenance was not completely wiped off. Be sure to wipe off split fluid thoroughly after maintenance.

Fig 1: Identifying Power Steering Assembly Components

Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

PROBLEM SYMPTOM CHART

Fluid leaking area	Possible cause	Corrective action
Leakage from connecting portions of pipes and hoses, numbered with (1) through (8) in figure	Insufficient tightening of flare nut, adhesion of dirt, damage to flare or flare nut or eye bolt	Loosen and retighten. Replace if ineffective.
	Poor insertion of hose or clamping	Retighten or replace the clamp.
	Damaged O-ring or gasket	Replace O-ring or gasket pipe or hose with new one, if ineffective, replace the gearbox also.
Leakage from hose (9) through (13) in figure	Crack or damage in hose	Replace with a new one.
Leakage from hose (9) through (13) in figure	Crack or damage in hose hardware	Replace with a new one.
Leakage from surrounding of cast iron portion of oil pump (14) and (15) in figure	Damaged O-ring	Replace the oil pump.
	Damaged gasket	Replace the oil pump.
Leakage from oil tank (16) and (17) in figure	Crack in oil tank	Replace the oil tank.
Leakage from filler neck (18)	Damaged cap packing	Replace the cap.
	Crack in root of filler neck	Replace the oil tank.
	High fluid level	Adjust the fluid level.
Leakage from surrounding of power cylinder of gearbox (19) in figure	Damaged oil seal	Replace the oil seal.
Leakage from control valve of gearbox (20) and (21) in figure	Damaged packing or oil seal	Replace the problem parts.
	Damage in control valve	Replace the control valve
(22) Leakage from connecting portion of cooler pipe and hose.	Insufficient tightening of connecting portion.	Loosen and retighten.