04-07 Subaru WRX / STi Power Steering Kit Install Guides
Reservoir Mounting for ALL PS Kits:
Use the supplied Reservoir and Type 3 Mounting Bracket to mount in front of the strut tower on the side of the engine that the PS Pump is installed to. Included in the threaded holes of the Reservoir, use the 2x M8 bolts to attach the Reservoir to the Mounting Bracket. Then mount the bracket to the front strut tower location using self-sourced hardware. Always double check to make sure the line length for the Pump Feed Line works before drilling a hole/installing a rivnut.
Disclaimer: We understand a majority of the customers buying this kit for 04-07 Subaru WRX / STi are doing some form of a Subaru based retrofit. That is great news! However, Subaru used multiple variations of PS pump inlets/outlets, racks, and subframes between the years of 2004-2007, and even more outside of that year range we specifically cater to. If you run into an issue due to part fitment, feel free to reach out via sales@chasebays.com in the inevitable situation that the Subaru Lego Pieces did not quite go together as the forum said they would.
See picture below!
Power Steering Kit Installation Instructions:
If you have a Power Steering Cooler version of any of these Power Steering Kits, scroll to the bottom of the page for that portion of your installation!
LHD 04-07 Subaru WRX / STi (CB-WRX-PSK)
Before installing any portion of the kit, we will start by removing the factory Pump Feed Adapter from the OE Power Steering Pump. Remove bolt holding on the barb adapter. Once removed, apply a small amount of lubrication in the inlet hole of the pump.
1. The first line in the kit will be the Pump Feed line. This line will be the largest in diameter and should be about 17 inches long. You will connect the 45 degree end to the larger of the two fittings on the bottom of the reservoir. The other end will install to the supplied Pump Feed Adapter. Make sure to check the 90 degree adapter bulkhead nut on the Reservoir to ensure it is tightened before final install, and clocked in the direction it needs to be for proper line routing.
The Pump Feed Adapter comes with a bracket and fitting - place the bracket onto the adapter in the slot of the fitting itself between the o-ring seal and the main body of the fitting with the part # of the bracket facing down. Install the Pump Feed Adapter into the inlet hole of the pump, then use the stock bolt to attach the bracket to the pump from the OE mounting location of the pre-existing barb.
2. Next, will be the High Pressure line. This line will be shiny compared to the rest and will have the Chase Bays logo on it. You will connect the end with the 90° fitting on it to the pump using the supplied 14mm crush washer adapter fitting. This hose can be routed 2 ways - either from the pump towards the passenger side of the car, back to the rear of the car, down below the turbo setup/hot exhaust area, and over to the rack ports. Alternatively, if you have the clearance/space, you can route the hose straight back and underneath the intake manifold, back towards the PS Pump side of the engine/transmission, then down around the transmission and over to the rack ports. Either of these routing paths has worked, and the Firesleeve on the line can be positioned on the line at the closest point to the turbo setup.
The 45° end of that line will be connected to the High Pressure Port on the steering rack using the supplied 90° fitting and 14mm O-ring adapter fitting. Make sure not to over-tighten this fitting, as the seal comes from the compression of the o-ring - not the seal of the aluminum fitting into the rack port.
The 45° end of that line will be connected to the High Pressure Port on the steering rack using the supplied 90° fitting and 14mm O-ring adapter fitting. Make sure not to over-tighten this fitting, as the seal comes from the compression of the o-ring - not the seal of the aluminum fitting into the rack port.
3. The last line will be the rack to reservoir return line. This line should be about 60" long, with a 90 degree swivel fitting at one end and a 45 degree fitting at the other end, and firesleeve on the line. You will connect the 45 degree end to the low pressure port on the rack using the supplied 16mm o-ring adapter fitting. Make sure not to over-tighten this fitting, as the seal comes from the compression of the o-ring - not the seal of the aluminum fitting into the rack port. The 90 end will then be connected to the smaller fitting on the bottom of the Power Steering Reservoir, and the hose will route in the same direction as the High Pressure Line.
4. Once you have everything plumbed you will need to bleed the system. This is accomplished by jacking up the front of the vehicle so that the front wheels are not making contact with the ground. Fill the Reservoir halfway full with the fluid of your choice and go ahead and start the vehicle. Turn the steering wheel from lock to lock for 5-10 minutes or until there are no bubbles visible in the reservoir. Make sure to keep an eye on the fluid level and top it off as needed during the bleeding process, keeping the Reservoir half full.
The last step is to put the car back on the ground and take it for a drive long enough to get the power steering fluid up to operating temperature. Then park the vehicle and allow it to cool back to ambient temperature. This will bleed off any residual air that may be in the system.
RHD 04-07 Subaru WRX / STi (CB-WRX-RHDPSK)
Before installing any portion of the kit, we will start by removing the factory Pump Feed Adapter from the OE Power Steering Pump. Remove bolt holding on the barb adapter. Once removed, apply a small amount of lubrication in the inlet hole of the pump.
1. The first line in the kit will be the Pump Feed line. This line will be the largest in diameter and should be about 17 inches long. You will connect the 45 degree end to the larger of the two fittings on the bottom of the reservoir. The other end will install to the supplied Pump Feed Adapter. Make sure to check the 90 degree adapter bulkhead nut on the Reservoir to ensure it is tightened before final install, and clocked in the direction it needs to be for proper line routing.
The Pump Feed Adapter comes with a bracket and fitting - place the bracket onto the adapter in the slot of the fitting itself between the o-ring seal and the main body of the fitting with the part # of the bracket facing down. Install the Pump Feed Adapter into the inlet hole of the pump, then use the stock bolt to attach the bracket to the pump from the OE mounting location of the pre-existing barb.
2. Next, will be the High Pressure line. This line will be shiny compared to the rest and will have the Chase Bays logo on it. You will connect the end with the 90° fitting on it to the pump using the supplied 14mm crush washer adapter fitting. This hose will be routed from the pump towards the passenger side of the car, back to the rear of the car, down below the turbo setup/hot exhaust area, and directly to the rack ports. The Firesleeve on the line can be positioned on the line at the closest point to the turbo setup.
The 45° end of that line will be connected to the High Pressure Port on the steering rack using the supplied 90° fitting and 14mm O-ring adapter fitting. Make sure not to over-tighten this fitting, as the seal comes from the compression of the o-ring - not the seal of the aluminum fitting into the rack port.
The 45° end of that line will be connected to the High Pressure Port on the steering rack using the supplied 90° fitting and 14mm O-ring adapter fitting. Make sure not to over-tighten this fitting, as the seal comes from the compression of the o-ring - not the seal of the aluminum fitting into the rack port.
3. The last line will be the rack to reservoir return line. This line should be about 30" long, with a 90 degree swivel fitting at one end and a 45 degree fitting at the other end, and firesleeve on the line. You will connect the 45 degree end to the low pressure port on the rack using the supplied 16mm o-ring adapter fitting. Make sure not to over-tighten this fitting, as the seal comes from the compression of the o-ring - not the seal of the aluminum fitting into the rack port. The 90 end will then be connected to the smaller fitting on the bottom of the Power Steering Reservoir, and the hose will route in the same direction as the High Pressure Line.
4. Once you have everything plumbed you will need to bleed the system. This is accomplished by jacking up the front of the vehicle so that the front wheels are not making contact with the ground. Fill the Reservoir halfway full with the fluid of your choice and go ahead and start the vehicle. Turn the steering wheel from lock to lock for 5-10 minutes or until there are no bubbles visible in the reservoir. Make sure to keep an eye on the fluid level and top it off as needed during the bleeding process, keeping the Reservoir half full.
The last step is to put the car back on the ground and take it for a drive long enough to get the power steering fluid up to operating temperature. Then park the vehicle and allow it to cool back to ambient temperature. This will bleed off any residual air that may be in the system.
04-07 Subaru WRX / STi Power Steering Cooler Upgrade (CB-WRX-PS-PSC, CB-WRX-PSK-PSC, and CB-WRX-RHDPSK-PSC)
This installation covers the same lines and components that all Power Steering Kits with Optional Power Steering Coolers come with. Instead of 1x Low Pressure 6AN Return Line, you will be installing 2x Low Pressure 6AN Return Lines and mounting a Setrab 10 Row PS Cooler to the area below the US Drivers side Headlight. Mounting bracket and hardware will not be included.
Start by locating a place to mount the cooler that clears the following (or more) parts under the headlight of the US Drivers side of the car:
- All FMIC piping if applicable
- Aftermarket bashbar or factory crash bar
- Front bumper material
- Factory tow hook
- No contact with the front wheel
1. The first line will be the Rack Outlet to Cooler line. That line should be the longer one and have a 90 degree and 45 degree fittings at either end, and have Firesleeve on it. You will connect the non-swivel 45 end to the low pressure outlet port on the steering rack using a 16mm o-ring adapter fitting. Make sure not to over-tighten this fitting, as the seal comes from the compression of the o-ring - not the seal of the aluminum fitting into the rack port. This fitting is not included in the Cooler Upgrade by itself, only the full Power Steering Kits. The other end of that line will be connected to the cooler. Route this hose along the similar path as the High Pressure, between the frame and engine, out to the area underneath the headlight where the cooler will be located. This can either be reached by going through the front portion of the tub or the opening between the core support and radiator.
2. The last line will be the shorter Cooler to Reservoir line. It will have 90 degree and 45 degree fittings on either end. You will connect one end to the cooler and the other to the smaller fitting on the bottom of the Power Steering Reservoir. We recommend routing both hoses together and use p-clamps where necessary.