Vague steering on 2009 Impreza D RC 2.0

[fizzking]

Any suggestions of what might be the matter.

When I have driven about 12 miles the steering becomes vague, notchy and needs constant correction. When cold it is fine.

The local dealer has come up blank on diagnostics but suspects it's the rack assembly. Expensive. It would require specialised equipment to prove it or not, which the dealer does not have.

The rack is electric.

Thanks in advance

 

[fizzking]

The car was put on a ramp lift. Nothing obvious. The garage has come across a similar problem on a Vauxhall, which turned out to be a tired UJ between steering column and rack. Have applied a penetrant on the outside, in case some works its way in  and they will remove it next week for closer inspection

[fizzking]

Subaru have been of no help. Their dealers seem to be geared up solely to service cars and lack the knowledge to venture beyond the computer.

The car seemed to be a bit better to drive after oiling the UJs

I took the Impreza to the local garage and they removed the steering knuckle in a few minutes. Accessed from the bonnet and no need for a ramp.

They called me back to have a look. Both UJs were free in one direction and stiff in another. One end was worse than the other. Also the movement was not smooth and sounded like dry bearings.They thought this was the problem because the steering wheel turned freely and the knuckle is before the power is applied. The steering module would try to compensate for the jerky input by over correcting.

By this time the knuckle had cooled down.To test further, that the problem started when the car was hot, they heated the worse end with a hot air gun. Sure enough the UJ tightened up.

The UJs are sealed with rubber boots so they were carefully pulled back and Duck Oil applied. After a few minutes of working the UJs they improved considerably. Perhaps 80-90% of free movement.

To add insult to injury the knuckle would cost about £260 and was not in stock here or in Japan. It would have to be manufactured in China. Maybe 5 to 6 weeks.

However the  car is driving much better now. I will have the tracking checked next.

 

Does anybody have a steering knuckle or know of where I could buy one?

[shms]

glad you seem to have found the culprit/s...

you could try partsouq for new bits.

 

https://partsouq.com/es/catalog/genuine/locate?c=SLR1303