Help diagnosing power steering squeal

My truck is equipped with hydroboost. My power steering pump periodically howls like a banshee ever since I replaced my V-belt. My truck also has factory AC which has been bypassed via shorter V belt since before I purchased it. I elected to replace the belt (due to its unknown age) with the same exact part number since I do not know the condition of the AC compressor and because functioning AC isn't a top priority for me at this time.

The squealing is present at the first startup of the day, when revving the engine before warmed to operating temperature, when accelerating from a stationary position while cold, when I turn the cabin fan on while cold.

The squealing is non longer present after the truck is up to operating temperature.

The steering is effortless and I do not hear any abnormal noises when turning the steering wheel from lock to lock.

Today I topped the fluid off, I adjusted the belt tension (both increased and decreased) with no notable improvement, I verified that the PS pulley was spinning freely and I cleaned the pulley grooves with brake clean in case it had gotten some type of oil on it.

I ordered another belt since the issues started upon installing the belt currently on the truck, at least as far as I remember. My plan is to replace the pulley after that if the squealing continues...then rebuild or replace the pump if it still continues.

Any ideas what I could be missing? Is it possible that my pump is bad/going bad even though the steering is uneffected?

Thanks,
Eric

Ive had a belt that got glazed have the same behavior. when load change or starting it made death noise but got better. it also had a alignemtn issue too. Belt looked fine, but the surface had a different texture when glazed

This^^^^
Belt issue
Eric

I had a similar issue. Replaced the PS pump belt then the AC belt. Got the same annoying squeal when first starting.Tightened the crap out of the belts and it went away.
The AC compressor **** the bed so I did a Sanden upgrade. Got it all put together and had that squeal again no matter how tight I got the belts.
Finally tried replacing the ribbed belt for the alternator. Problem solved.
Never would've thought it could be that ribbed belt.
When I compared the new one to old one, it was clearly glazed but you never would've known it without a side-by-side comparison.

Backfoot100 said:

I had a similar issue. Replaced the PS pump belt then the AC belt. Got the same annoying squeal when first starting.Tightened the crap out of the belts and it went away.
The AC compressor **** the bed so I did a Sanden upgrade. Got it all put together and had that squeal again no matter how tight I got the belts.
Finally tried replacing the ribbed belt for the alternator. Problem solved.
Never would've thought it could be that ribbed belt.
When I compared the new one to old one, it was clearly glazed but you never would've known it without a side-by-side comparison.

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exactly, good way to put it!

Update:

My alternator/waterpump/crank belt being loose was making my power steering pump squeal. Both belts ride on the crank and water pump so I suppose this makes sense. The plus side is that I now have an extra of each of the V belts that my truck uses. On to the next project!

Just to clarify as I'm having a similar issue. Is there a significant difference between the traditional smooth V-belts and the newer style notched belts? (notch, teeth...not sure what the proper term is) I'm on my third p/s belt and all my local parts store has are the notched style. I'd be interested in knowing the advantages/disadvantages of each.

(not trying to hijack, but thought this would be a good addition to the discussion)

edward Kish said:

Just to clarify as I'm having a similar issue. Is there a significant difference between the traditional smooth V-belts and the newer style notched belts? (notch, teeth...not sure what the proper term is) I'm on my third p/s belt and all my local parts store has are the notched style. I'd be interested in knowing the advantages/disadvantages of each.

(not trying to hijack, but thought this would be a good addition to the discussion)

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ribbed belts you mean? Its a style thing, i think a ribbed belt is more cooperative when putting on and it has an advantage of good grip but i think they dont last as long because of the lowered surface area iirc, maybe it was how loud. technically, v belts can vary on the depth of the v and shape but typically they follow the same thing. You see that more for lawn mowers because why not. If you are eating belts, how is it eating the belt? Is it wearing down to nothing? Is it slicing the side? Is it twisting? If you see it do anything other than wear down from the edge that contats the pulleys like the slicing or twisting, you have another issue. I would say verify its straight(alignment), verify the tension is not too high but not too low, there should be a little give when you tug on it, and verify the tension is staying that way too. Also, check your pulleys it rides on without the belt on. Give em a wiggle, shouldnt have play. are all the accessories mounted securely? No loose bolts?
Lastly, are you eating all your belts? if so, maybe harmonics?

belts are not being eaten, its a brand new gates belt I bought two days ago, still looks brand now. I'm wondering if I should try running a smaller belt straight from the crank instead of doubling the belts on the water pump. That would give me more surface area contact on the pulley

edward Kish said:

belts are not being eaten, its a brand new gates belt I bought two days ago, still looks brand now. I'm wondering if I should try running a smaller belt straight from the crank instead of doubling the belts on the water pump. That would give me more surface area contact on the pulley

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my bad,i read you saying on 3rd as its eating them. the notched belts are nicer usually in my opinion, i think they cost more generally. for your use, you may be better off. Is your ps pump having issues not turning enough? Slipping? I believe the water pump gets more than one belt for purpose of failure of another belt. You can run without the 2nd belt but just know if anything drives off the water pump it might start to slip or you may not spin the waterpump enough itself. If you have good quality belts and a working cooling system i wouldnt see the issue but redundancy was for keeping engine alive at all costs im guessing
my truck has the water pump driven with the alternator and my ps pump is separate. its not the original design for this engine, its had a different PS Pump or a different crank pulley at some point, but it does work

Both my diesel truck have belt squeal when cold and on fast idle. Usually goes away in less that 1/2 minute. I recommend using Napa more expensive line of belts. They r very expensive. Have had a lot problem with the cheaper belts stretching in a short amount of time.

BKING33 said:

Both my diesel truck have belt squeal when cold and on fast idle. Usually goes away in less that 1/2 minute. I recommend using Napa more expensive line of belts. They r very expensive. Have had a lot problem with the cheaper belts stretching in a short amount of time.

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i think napa belts the expensive ones are gates?

Don't use cheap belts i recommend gates belt for that reason i had belt squeal and howl with some el cheapo master pro belts from oreilly and after a while i went with the more expensive belt and it cured my problem once and for all.

Make sure your pulleys are in line with each other.

I'm going to help all square body owners with information I just learned. AC dual pulleys on a PS pump are for AC only engines as they require a different belt profile. If you have a non AC power steering pump you will need to use a single pulley and the correct non AC crank pulley as the belts are different.