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Please help me fix this power steering pump squeal.

76k5blazerr

76k5blazerr

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I am about to lose it on my k5... Anytime I drive it when the temperature outside is below about 55 degrees, the power steering pump squeals VERY loudly, consistently, usually until the engine is warmed up but there are those rare occasions where it will not stop squealing no matter what you do. Tonight on my way home it squealed constantly the entire ride, and it's loud. Drowns out the radio. I almost lost my sh!t. It doesn't do it at all when the sun is out and it's fairly warm. Any ideas? I know it's not the belt, it's the pump. Also I have bled the power steering numerous times and can't get it to work properly. No matter how much I bleed it I can never turn it lock to lock with the tires on the ground. It will go a couple turns then start makin a racket and you won't be able to turn the wheel anymore. I know there is air in the system I just don't know why it won't go out. I'm at the end of my rope with this gawd dam squeal. For the sake of my k5, please help me fix this before I kick its ass.
 
Don't laugh, but I would change the belt
 
Your shitting me right? You seriously think it might be the belt? Maybe I should go and get one of those gatorback brand belts.
 
Maybe rub a bar of soap on it first to see if it helps?
 
Well I've had them do just this. Ask how much pumps are while you're in there
 
Pulleys straight, no funky dragging or pulsing when you turn the pump by hand?
Was the belt replaced with the pump?
Any adjustments left to tighten the belt?
 
new belt and tighten the snot out of it... make sure all the brackets are on it...
 
Clean all of the pullys. If there is any rust or anything on the surface of the V it'll squeal. A wire wheel or sand paper works well. Clean it to bare metal and repaint. Then install new belt.
 
Try putting jack stands under front axles and bleeding air out with wheels off the ground?
 
brans87 said:
Try putting jack stands under front axles and bleeding air out with wheels off the ground?
Click to expand...
ChrisPerry said:
Clean all of the pullys. If there is any rust or anything on the surface of the V it'll squeal. A wire wheel or sand paper works well. Clean it to bare metal and repaint. Then install new belt.
Click to expand...

x2
if that doesn't work, go serpentine :D
 
Everytime I bleed it I jack it up, turn it lock to lock with tires in the air. Never can get it to work flawlessly. I'm gonna try a gatorback belt and I'll clean the pully then tighten the tits out of it. So you guys don't think the pump is the source of the squeal?
 
76k5blazerr said:
Everytime I bleed it I jack it up, turn it lock to lock with tires in the air. Never can get it to work flawlessly. I'm gonna try a gatorback belt and I'll clean the pully then tighten the tits out of it. So you guys don't think the pump is the source of the squeal?
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There is a possibility that it is the pump. We want to make sure that you check the easiest possible solutions first. With what you describe, it could be a belt slipping, bearings in the pump, belt to tight, etc.
Sometimes when a pump goes bad it makes a loud/annoying whining noise no matter how much fluid it has. And can get louder when you turn the wheels.
 
I just don't understand why the weather has so much to do with it. I used to think it only did it when the engine was cold. But it seemed in the summer I could crank the motor right up after sitting all night and drive off and it wouldn't squeal. But it usually always squeals at least a little bit when you first start driving, anytime it's cold outside and it squeals when it's raining or very very humid. I would be thrilled if a new belt fixes the problem. I have heard good things about the gatorback brand belts so gonna try that and cleaning the pully first. I'm just fed up with it. My truck needs to stop being so picky about the weather.
 
When the belt is cold it's not as flexible. The squealing is from the pulley going faster than the belt, meaning the belt is slipping. As it warms up the belt becomes more soft/flexible and grips the pulley better. Depending on how old the belt is, it could also be stretched.
 
Hmmmm, that makes sense what you are saying. It is seeming like that could be the problem now because it will also squeal even when it's hot outside and the motor is hot if you rev the engine. The belt should be as tight as I can get it right?
 
Yeah, i lean on those. Like Ryoken said, tighten the piss out of it.
If you can push the middle of the belt down more than 1/4", tighten it more. Belt breaks? Might have been too tight...
 
Like the redneck torque wrench: tighten it till it breaks, then back off half a turn. Gonna grab a new belt on Wednesday and I'll get back to y'all. Thanks for the help. 1st priority on the truck right now is the front brake pads. Apperently theve reached the wear bars because my right front brake has a light squeaking all the time now. Will be doing that tomorrow.
 
Another question, what parts store carries gatorback belts? They are made by Goodyear. I have heard good things about them. My options are pep boys, autozone, Napa, advance auto, car quest and oriellys. If none of them carry the Goodyear gatorback belts, which store carries the best belt? Obviously I need one that will not slip easily. What do you guys use?
 
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