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Power steering pump whinning

joshthemule

joshthemule

1/2 ton status
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
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Location
Clarksville, TN
The history:

I bent the housing of my pump when I was changing the belts so I had to pull the pump, take the housing off which included pulling the pulley and bracket, replace most the seals, bend the housing back into shape, reassemble and bolt it back in.

The Symptoms:
When I turn fast or press the brakes hard (hydro boost brakes) the pump belt starts slipping and therefore, whining like belts do.

So, it seems like the pump is not able to meat the demand.
Maybe the belt is too loose. (how tight should it be?)

what are your ideas?
 
tighten that sucker up! I run mine to where i can move it 1" or so each way if i kinda rip on it. if that dont fix her, youve got a bad pump.
 
Belt deflection should only be 1/4" between the longest two points when pushing on the belt. Whinning is usually either low on fluid or air in the system.
 
4X4HIGH said:
Belt deflection should only be 1/4" between the longest two points when pushing on the belt. Whinning is usually either low on fluid or air in the system.
Click to expand...

I turned it lock to lick and depressed the brakes very hard several times and the fluid level never dropped. Its got to be the belt slipping. I'm about to put the retard strength to it and tighten that thing up
 
You need to bleed the system, that is done with the wheels off the ground and cycling the wheels lock to lock about 20 times. The fluid level can be full but still have an air pocket trapped.
 
4X4HIGH said:
The whine is not from the belt slipping.
Click to expand...

Oh, what's it from? If there is fluid in the reservoir then there is fluid in the pump so even if there is air in the system, the pump doesn't know the difference does it? I would buy what you are saying if the pump was running dry but the fluid level never changes.

What I'll probably do tomorrow is bleed the hell out of it and tighten the belt as much as possible.
 
It is the pump that is whinning. Air in the fluid airates and can't pump correctly so it whines.
 
"4x4high" is correct on this one.. i dont know of any decent shops that would let a power steering job go with out bleeding the system first just to be safe and insure the customer has a smooth steer..:wink1: another thing you may try is a full fluid exchange, what is the quality of your power steering fluid?? im sure you put in some fresh but now that it has cycled through the system what does it look and smell like??
 
not to start an arguement, but a belt slipping and a pump whining are two very different sounds. if the belt is slipping, it is either because it is too loose or because your pump is not turning as fast as the engine. even if the pump was only pumping air, it would still turn(at least until it fried) a squeaky belt has nothing to do with air in the lines.

HOWEVER... if I misunderstood what you were saying, and it is not a squeaky belt but rather the pump whining, then disregard my humble comment.
 
true however he was explaining a "whinig" noise.. thats what i based my judgement off of.. but on the other hand i know chevy power steering pumps are notorious for belt slippage even my own gets out of line once in a while ;)
 
4X4HIGH said:
Definately a difference between pump "whine" and belt "squeal".
Click to expand...

Well maybe I misspoke. I think it definitely sounds like belt squeal. It even does it when I mash the brake and that shouldn't need to be bled. I mean, that is a direct connection to the pump and should have all the fluid it needs if the res is not now.

Sorry I can't give results. I've been doing honey do's all day so the burban is on the back burner. I'll update tomorrow. Thanks for all the input.
 
So if I hear a noise like 7 chipmunks on acid getting pummeled by a pissed of beagle when I turn the wheel quickly or far, is that bad fluid possibly, or air in the lines?
 
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