🔧 Power Steering Pump - Replacement

Replacing the hydraulic power steering pump on your Outback involves removing the accessory belt, disconnecting two fluid lines, transferring the pulley and reservoir as needed, and bleeding air from the system. This procedure assumes the replacement pump is supplied without a pulley and uses the original reservoir.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Wear safety glasses and gloves because power steering fluid can spray when a line is opened.
• Disconnect the negative battery cable before working near the alternator and accessory belt.
• Allow the engine to cool completely before beginning.
• Keep fluid off the accessory belt, exhaust, and painted surfaces.
• Never start the engine with an empty power steering pump.
• Do not hold the steering wheel against either stop during bleeding; this can damage the new pump.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 10mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 22mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive 6-inch extension
• 10-80 Nm torque wrench
• 12mm combination wrench
• 14mm combination wrench
• Power steering pulley holding tool (specialty)
• Accessory belt tension gauge (specialty)
• Fluid transfer syringe
• Hose pinch-off pliers
• Slip-joint pliers
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• Plastic drain pan
• Plastic line caps and plugs
• Plastic funnel
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Hydraulic power steering pump - Qty: 1
• Power steering pump inlet O-ring - Qty: 1
• Power steering pressure-line sealing washers - Qty: 2
• DEXRON III-compatible automatic transmission fluid - Qty: 2 quarts
• Accessory drive belt - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Outback on level ground, engage the parking brake, and center the steering wheel.
• Open the hood and allow the engine to become completely cool.
• Use a 10mm socket to disconnect the negative battery terminal. Move the cable aside so it cannot touch the terminal.
• Clean around the pump, reservoir, and hose fittings with shop towels before opening the system.
• Compare the new pump with the original. Confirm that the hose ports, mounting points, and pulley shaft match.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove Fluid from the Reservoir

• Remove the power steering reservoir cap by hand.
• Use a fluid transfer syringe to remove as much old fluid as possible and place it in the plastic drain pan.
• Reinstall the cap loosely to prevent dirt from entering.

Step 2: Loosen the Accessory Belt

• Use a 12mm socket and ratchet to loosen the alternator adjustment-lock bolt.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to loosen the alternator pivot bolt. Do not remove it.
• Use a 12mm socket to turn the belt adjustment bolt counterclockwise until the belt becomes loose.
• Slide the belt off the power steering pump pulley and remove it from the engine.
• Inspect the old belt for cracking, glazing, or fluid contamination. Replace it if any damage is present.

Step 3: Disconnect the Pump Inlet Hose

• Position the plastic drain pan below the power steering pump.
• Use hose pinch-off pliers to gently clamp the low-pressure inlet hose.
• Use slip-joint pliers to move the spring clamp away from the pump fitting.
• Carefully twist and pull the hose from the pump. Use a small flat-blade screwdriver only to loosen the hose edge; do not cut or puncture it.
• Close the hose with a plastic line plug.

Step 4: Disconnect the High-Pressure Line

• Use a 22mm socket, extension, and ratchet to remove the pressure-line banjo bolt from the pump.
• A banjo fitting is the ring-shaped hose end retained by a hollow bolt.
• Remove both old sealing washers and discard them.
• Cap the hose and pump opening with plastic line caps to keep dirt out.

Step 5: Remove the Pump

• Rotate the pump pulley by hand until its access holes align with the mounting bolts.
• Use a 12mm socket, extension, and ratchet through the pulley openings to remove the pump mounting bolts.
• Support the pump with one hand while removing the final bolt.
• Lift the pump out without spilling the remaining fluid.

Step 6: Transfer the Pulley

• Place the original pump on a stable work surface.
• Use the power steering pulley holding tool to prevent the pulley from rotating.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the center pulley fastener.
• Slide the pulley from the shaft without bending it. Clean its mounting surface with a shop towel.
• Install the pulley on the new pump in the same orientation.
• Hold the pulley with the power steering pulley holding tool and use the torque wrench with a 14mm socket to tighten the fastener to 59 Nm (43 ft-lbs).
• Do not pry against the pulley edges.

Step 7: Transfer the Reservoir if Required

• If the replacement pump does not include a reservoir, use a 12mm socket and ratchet to remove the reservoir bracket fasteners.
• Remove the reservoir connection carefully and discard its old inlet O-ring.
• Lubricate the new O-ring with clean DEXRON III-compatible fluid and install it without twisting it.
• Fit the reservoir squarely onto the new pump and reinstall its bracket fasteners.
• Use the torque wrench with a 12mm socket to tighten the reservoir bracket fasteners to 8 Nm (71 in-lbs).

Step 8: Install the New Pump

• Place the new pump into its mounting bracket.
• Start all mounting bolts by hand to prevent crossed threads.
• Use the torque wrench with a 12mm socket and extension to tighten the pump mounting bolts evenly to 22 Nm (16 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reconnect the Fluid Lines

• Place one new sealing washer on each side of the pressure-line banjo fitting.
• Thread the banjo bolt into the pump by hand.
• Use the torque wrench with a 22mm socket to tighten the banjo bolt to 40 Nm (30 ft-lbs).
• Remove the plug from the inlet hose and push the hose completely onto the pump fitting.
• Use slip-joint pliers to return the spring clamp to its original position.
• Remove the hose pinch-off pliers.

Step 10: Install and Adjust the Accessory Belt

• Route the accessory belt correctly around the crankshaft, alternator, and power steering pump pulleys.
• Confirm that every belt rib sits fully inside its matching pulley groove.
• Use a 12mm socket to turn the alternator adjustment bolt clockwise and increase belt tension.
• Use the accessory belt tension gauge at the longest belt span. Set a new belt to approximately 7-9mm deflection under 98 N (22 lb) of force.
• Use the torque wrench with a 12mm socket to tighten the alternator adjustment-lock bolt to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• Use the torque wrench with a 14mm socket to tighten the alternator pivot bolt to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• Recheck that the belt remains centered.

Step 11: Fill and Manually Bleed the System

• Use a plastic funnel to fill the reservoir with DEXRON III-compatible fluid to the cold maximum mark.
• With the engine off, slowly turn the steering wheel from near one side to near the other at least 20 times.
• Do not force the steering wheel firmly against either stop.
• Watch the reservoir and add fluid whenever the level drops.
• Continue until large air bubbles stop appearing.

Step 12: Reconnect the Battery and Run the Pump

• Use a 10mm socket to reconnect the negative battery terminal.
• Confirm that the reservoir contains fluid before starting the engine.
• Start the engine and let it idle. Do not rev it.
• Slowly turn the steering wheel from side to side several times without holding it against the stops.
• Switch off the engine if the fluid becomes heavily foamed. Wait several minutes, refill, and repeat the bleeding process.

---

✅ After Repair

• Set the fluid level to the appropriate hot or cold mark without overfilling the reservoir.
• Inspect the pressure-line fitting, inlet hose, reservoir connection, and pump body for leaks.
• Confirm that steering assist is smooth and the pump does not whine.
• Check that the accessory belt runs straight without squealing or wandering.
• Take a short, low-speed test drive and verify normal steering operation.
• Recheck the fluid level and all connections after the test drive.
• Recheck belt tension after approximately 50-100 miles if a new belt was installed.
• Dispose of the old fluid according to local Panipat hazardous-waste requirements; do not pour it onto the ground or into a drain.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$800 USD equivalent (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $150-$350 USD equivalent (parts only)

You Save: $300-$450 USD equivalent by doing it yourself!

Local labor rates vary. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.