Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » A new Daily Driver fell in my lap. '97 Subaru Outback 1 2

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  June 30, 2011 2:22 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

  So...chatting with a friend the other day I was told of a neighbor who needed to be rid of a Subaru.

  I scored a great deal on this '97 Legacy Outback Wagon with a 5 speed (!).

  

  What it does need is a power steering pump. It's not leaking, but it looks like a bearing has gone out on the front of it or something (I see debris up in the snout of the pump) and it's causing a vibration/noise (not the low-on-fluid whining...but a grinding/vibrating type of noise).

  I was looking at new/remanufactured pump prices and they're like $150. While not ridiculous...I also see that used pumps are available for roughly a third of that. So my question is...are these pumps prone to failure (so I should get a parts store one with a warranty) or do they generally last forever and just buy a used one from the yard?

  The stakes are pretty low...so it's not a big deal. Just curious what some of you here knew about it. This is my first Subaru (somewhat surprisingly).

  Clem

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  June 30, 2011 2:32 p.m. FlightService HalfDork

  Wow dude, since that feel in your lap, you must have a really strong lap

  If you knew what you were doing, I wouldn't be here.

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  June 30, 2011 2:33 p.m. FlightService HalfDork

  Joke aside the issue is the sealing surface from the pump to the high pressure hose.

  If there is any, and I mean ANY deformation, scratches, etc. it will leak.

  Other than that you are good to go.

  I think I have one in my garage

  If you knew what you were doing, I wouldn't be here.

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  June 30, 2011 2:36 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

  ClemSparks wrote: It's not leaking

  Yeah, well...sometimes even when it IS broken I don't fix it.

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  June 30, 2011 2:45 p.m. bravenrace SuperDork

  I. HATE. YOU.
  Actually, I hate hearing stories like this because they never happen to me. But I'm happy for you, as it looks like a decent car.

  If you're young an conservative, you have no heart. If you are old and liberal, you have no brain.

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  June 30, 2011 3:10 p.m. failboat Reader

  I am convinced EVERY manufacturer sold a car in that same 2 tone color scheme.

  Since i got my blue/gray mpv I see the same colors everywhere on crossovers and suv's. everywhere.

  boosh.

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  June 30, 2011 3:25 p.m. Travis_K SuperDork

  The power steering pump on my dads outback has lasted 380k so far, but for other things junkyard parts seem to hold up the best, so I would try that first. Remember to use ATF, not power steering fluid too.

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  June 30, 2011 3:51 p.m. ValuePack Dork

  I can't honestly remember the last time I saw a bad Subaru PS pump, a used unit should last you just fine. Good score!

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  June 30, 2011 4:07 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

  Awesome find. Bonus points if you swap an EJ25 into it.

  Go fast or go broke.

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  June 30, 2011 4:36 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

  Sweet! Used sounds like a plan from what y'all are saying.

  About the ATF instead of power steering fluid. Is that a factory recommended thing or...?

  Like I said, it's my first Subaru, so if there are any other things like this I need to know...hit me with them (I didn't aks you to learn me them, though!).

  Yeah...my ex wife has the same car, same color, one year newer. The kids will either be very comfortable or quite confused.

  Clem

  Yeah, well...sometimes even when it IS broken I don't fix it.

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  June 30, 2011 10:46 p.m. ckosacranoid Dork

  i have had two of them, great cars, try the junk yard first, i have never had that issue, the sturts in the read will blow out after while, should look into doing something soon with them. check the clutch also, check the front sway bar links also i have one set go on one of my cars, i think this one might also be out, have to check out. easy way it toss it around in the lot, if it pushs badly them they are good, if it handles good, then they are bad. so how much for falling in your lap? if you dont want it i would be more then happy to come done and pull it out of your lap.....

  Otuka Racing and Photography- need photos, just ask!

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  July 1, 2011 1:30 a.m. Travis_K SuperDork

  Yes, it is supposed to have ATF, at least my dads 96 is.

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  July 1, 2011 12:56 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

  The price of the car was less than what parts would cost to fix the a/c in my 323, I'm relatively sure.

  The PO bought it at 30K miles...or maybe it was 50K. Head gasket or gaskets have been done. Rear main seal has been done. Car has 121K currently.

  It's the nicest car I've ever owned (which isn't saying much)...so I plan to use it since it's an upgrade for me.

  Clem

  Yeah, well...sometimes even when it IS broken I don't fix it.

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  July 1, 2011 1:49 p.m. ValuePack Dork

  mndsm wrote: Awesome find. Bonus points if you swap an EJ25 into it.

  It already is one.

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  July 1, 2011 2:02 p.m. griffin729 HalfDork

  ValuePack wrote:

  mndsm wrote: Awesome find. Bonus points if you swap an EJ25 into it.

  It already is one.

  Yep, EJ251. That would be the Phase I DOHC heads. Which do have a tendency to pop gaskets, but since you said they've already been replaced, you should be fine.

  XBL gamertag: griffin729

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  July 1, 2011 2:09 p.m. ValuePack Dork

  [knowitall douchebag]

  EJ25D, to be precise. 251 is the later single cam.

  [/knowitall douchebag]

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  July 1, 2011 4:20 p.m. fornetti14 HalfDork

  A junkyard pump will work.
  They're easy to change and hardly ever fail. Then again yours failed, but it's still no reason to spend $150 IMO.

  All cars are now running. Time to go shopping for something that is broken.

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  July 1, 2011 5:16 p.m. Ojala New Reader

  Get a used pump. The PS pumps rarely fail as long as you dont hold your steering wheel locked doing donuts. I do remember that some late 90s early 2000s had a silly setup where the top belt shroud bolted to the banjo bolt bracket on the top of the pump. If you didnt tighten the shroud bolt and in the right way it would mess up the line and kill the pump. I dont remember if that was in 97 though.

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  July 1, 2011 5:31 p.m. SupraWes Dork

  Toyota and Nissan use ATF for PS fluid I'm guessing its pretty common in Japan, I think only Honda uses a special fluid. Even my BMW uses ATF for PS fluid.

  Because Toyota hasn't made anything interesting since 1989

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  July 1, 2011 8:44 p.m. griffin729 HalfDork

  ValuePack wrote: [knowitall douchebag] EJ25D, to be precise. 251 is the later single cam. [/knowitall douchebag]

  Doh! I probably should have known that. Ok, fine my car has an EJ251.

  XBL gamertag: griffin729

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  July 19, 2011 8:46 p.m. Nitroracer SuperDork

  Bumping this up because I found a cheap 5-spd 96' Outback wagon.

  Then I found things like this that really entice me.

  

  1968 Fairlane 500 / 1998 Camaro Z/28

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  July 20, 2011 3:09 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

  Well...I got my $45 used pump. I haven't put it on yet, though. Maybe one evening this week. Motivation is low with the temperatures we've been having. On the other hand, my motivation should be high since this has the working A/C and all...

  Those wagons above look cool!

  Clem

  Yeah, well...sometimes even when it IS broken I don't fix it.

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  July 20, 2011 3:26 p.m. EvanB SuperDork

  This is what real Outback wagons look like

  
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  July 20, 2011 3:38 p.m. Keith SuperDork

  The pimped out ones make me laugh - just start with a GT instead!

  My parents had a 1997 GT wagon. Good car, especially after I swapped in a larger rear sway bar. It was never an autocross monster, but the first time I took it for a long trip over B-roads I was a convert.

  Square left in 50 caution ocean!

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  July 20, 2011 4:41 p.m. ddavidv SuperDork

  I had read on NASIOC or someplace that the Outback Legacys are not that simple to lower. They are supposed to have an additional spacer welded to the body in the rear. I'd want to know that before I bought one with the intention of just tossing some springs under it. It's likely cheaper to buy a 'plain' Legacy instead of the Outback. When I was shopping for one a few years ago they commanded a premium for that two tone paint and fog lights that really wasn't justifiable.

  Moved to the fastest run group so I can drive "flat out"

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