Squeal coming from Power Steering Pump under load
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 408
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From: Buffalo NY
Squeal coming from Power Steering Pump under load
When I put load on my power steering system by turning the steering wheel when the car is sitting still with the engine running, it seems to load up the power steering pump and cause a lot of noise. It appears that the pulley actually slows down and I think the belt starts to slip. What is causing the pump to load up this much. Could there be something wrong with the pump? It was doing this last fall, and I just replaced the assist ram, the hoses, and rebuilt the control valve. I bled the system and balanced the valve. The noise goes away when the car is moving forward and turning because there is less resistance. Where should I focus my attention?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo NY
The belts were just replaced less than 200 miles ago. Dayco brand, sitting well down in the pulleys. How tight is fairly tight?
Is it normal for the pump to load up this much when turning the wheel?
Is it normal for the pump to load up this much when turning the wheel?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,291
Likes: 492
From: Salmon Arm, BC
1/2" movement at midspan of the belt. The pump will load up at low engine rpm (idle) and be much better at a higher rpm. If the belt is sitting to far down it could be bottoming out in the pulley and not contacting the sides of the pulley properly. check by trying to pull out a thin (.024") stainless wire that you wrap around the pulley then tighten the belt back in place.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Your comment that the belt sits "well down" in the pulley groove may have something to it. I seem to remember that modern belts may have a slightly different angle to the drive section than older belts. The driving force is supposed to be taken on the sides of the belt. If the angles of the belt and the angle of the pulley groove are not matched, the belt is trying to drive the pulley on the bottom surface not the sides. This causes the belt to not engage the pulley groove properly and the belt can slip despite being properly tensioned.
Now, the bad news, I don't know how you specify the correct belt for your pulley. You will need to talk to a knowledgeable service tech or parts store counter person.
Jim
Now, the bad news, I don't know how you specify the correct belt for your pulley. You will need to talk to a knowledgeable service tech or parts store counter person.
Jim
