Hydroboost & PS belt squeal problem (?)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
Hydroboost & PS belt squeal problem (?)
We finished installing a Hydroboost booster in my '80 this weekend. We bled it for a while with the tires just off the lift ramps. The brake pedal feels nice and firm, but when I step on the brakes real hard, the power steering belt squeals like it does when you try to turn too sharp and the power steering pump nearly stops. I am almost sure I have the pressure lines connected correctly (PS to HB to Steeroids). I will check again to be sure. I haven't taked it out for a drive yet because I don't trust it yet. Hydroboost is new to me, so I don't know if PS belt squeal under hard braking is normal or not.
FYI, I installed a reman'd PS pump a few years ago. I have a pump with a keyway shaft, not the press fit shaft like the original, so I could align the pulleys better. I thought I read in a Jim Shea post (that I can't find now) that there are two "generations" of Saginaw pumps with different pressures. By switching to a pump with a keyway shaft, did I switch to a pump with less pressure? Is braking hard with lower pressure pump too much for the pump?
Is the PS belt squeal a problem? If it matters, I have Steeroids too.
FYI, I installed a reman'd PS pump a few years ago. I have a pump with a keyway shaft, not the press fit shaft like the original, so I could align the pulleys better. I thought I read in a Jim Shea post (that I can't find now) that there are two "generations" of Saginaw pumps with different pressures. By switching to a pump with a keyway shaft, did I switch to a pump with less pressure? Is braking hard with lower pressure pump too much for the pump?
Is the PS belt squeal a problem? If it matters, I have Steeroids too.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
No it is not normal to have it squeal. I have the HB and Steeroids now and have hit the brakes hard and turned against the stops with no squeal. My pump is the original one from 72. It is keyed as I recall. If it almost stops the pump something is definitly not right.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
I just checked the pressure lines again. They are connected just as illustrated at the Hydratech Hydratech Braking Tech Info web site.
So, what do you recommend I check? What do you think could be creating that much resistance on the pump?
So, what do you recommend I check? What do you think could be creating that much resistance on the pump?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
You might be running into some air issues still. It may take a few hundred miles of driving to rid the system of all air. I know it took a little bit (a few weeks) to rid mine of air and get the steering smooth while turning and braking. I did VBPs R&P and hydroboost at the same time and followed the Hydratech recommended system start-up procedures as best as I could.
What type of fluid are you running?
How tight is the belt? Obvious question I suppose.
B.
What type of fluid are you running?
How tight is the belt? Obvious question I suppose.
B.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
You might be running into some air issues still. It may take a few hundred miles of driving to rid the system of all air. I know it took a little bit (a few weeks) to rid mine of air and get the steering smooth while turning and braking. I did VBPs R&P and hydroboost at the same time and followed the Hydratech recommended system start-up procedures as best as I could.
What type of fluid are you running?
How tight is the belt? Obvious question I suppose.
B.
What type of fluid are you running?
How tight is the belt? Obvious question I suppose.
B.
That would be great if it's just an air problem that will just take time. It has run for less than half an hour so far, and not at much above an idle. I will take it out for a spin tonight and let you know how it sounds and feels after that.
Our son put a lot of time into making it look nice toom so I'll post pics too.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
Squeal problem solved
It turns out the PS pump belt problem was not caused when I added a Hydroboost brake booster. In hindsight, I realized I had a PS belt squeal problem when I turned to lock since I installed Steeroids and just avoiding turning hard lock to lock. Stepping on the HB-boosted brakes just made me sensitive to the problem.
We disconnected the return lines one at a time, put the end in an empty PS fluid bottle, and pumped the brakes lightly - HB line first (because that's upstream from Steeroids), then the Steeroids, and then refilled the PS pump.
That fixed the problem. The PS belts does not squeal when I step hard on the brakes OR when I turn hard lock to hard lock. I don't know how or where air was stuck in the Steeroids for so long (years) or how that would cause belt squeal, but the problem went away by aggressively bleeding the whole system.
I will post pics in General.
We disconnected the return lines one at a time, put the end in an empty PS fluid bottle, and pumped the brakes lightly - HB line first (because that's upstream from Steeroids), then the Steeroids, and then refilled the PS pump.
That fixed the problem. The PS belts does not squeal when I step hard on the brakes OR when I turn hard lock to hard lock. I don't know how or where air was stuck in the Steeroids for so long (years) or how that would cause belt squeal, but the problem went away by aggressively bleeding the whole system.
I will post pics in General.
