Power Steering Pump Noise

[texasmike]

My truck sat outside on the dirt, still, for 13 years. It had 52,400 original miles on it and now has about 54,600. About two weeks ago, it started making an occasional very loud squealing noise which I believe is the power steering pump. After driving it a few minutes, the noise would stop and not happen for the rest of the drive. The pump had the correct amount of fluid and no leaks but I decided to remove about 12 oz and replace it with 12 oz of Lucas power steering additive (thick as honey) just to be on the safe side. However, that did not seem to help and every time I drive it, after about ten minutes, I get this loud squealing noise for a minute or two and then is stops and does not return. On short trips to the store, it may not happen until I get back in to leave. Talk about embarrassing, here is this beautiful restored to original condition truck, making this horrible loud noise in the parking lot. As always, it stops after a minute or two. This has happened more than once. The belts appear to be tight and it never makes the noise when I start it up, only after driving for awhile.

Could it have something to do with the fluid getting warm or is it just the pump going out? The truck drives and steers great. Thanks for the help.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

My truck sat outside on the dirt, still, for 13 years. It had 52,400 original miles on it and now has about 54,600. About two weeks ago, it started making an occasional very loud squealing noise which I believe is the power steering pump. After driving it a few minutes, the noise would stop and not happen for the rest of the drive. The pump had the correct amount of fluid and no leaks but I decided to remove about 12 oz and replace it with 12 oz of Lucas power steering additive (thick as honey) just to be on the safe side. However, that did not seem to help and every time I drive it, after about ten minutes, I get this loud squealing noise for a minute or two and then is stops and does not return. On short trips to the store, it may not happen until I get back in to leave. Talk about embarrassing, here is this beautiful restored to original condition truck, making this horrible loud noise in the parking lot. As always, it stops after a minute or two. This has happened more than once. The belts appear to be tight and it never makes the noise when I start it up, only after driving for awhile.

Could it have something to do with the fluid getting warm or is it just the pump going out? The truck drives and steers great. Thanks for the help.

If it's a high pitch squealing it's the belt slipping. I would recommend a quality belt, only other reason they squeal loud is when you hit full lock.

 

[texasmike]

It's definitely high pitched, it just seems strange that it would do that only once a day and for such a brief time. It has the original two hose dual pulley pump on it. How many nuts/bolts need to be loosened to tighten the belt. And does the pump need the applied pressure down or up? Does the AC compressor need to be loosened to tighten the PS pump? Thanks for the help.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

It's definitely high pitched, it just seems strange that it would do that only once a day and for such a brief time. It has the original two hose dual pulley pump on it. How many nuts/bolts need to be loosened to tighten the belt. And does the pump need the applied pressure down or up? Does the AC compressor need to be loosened to tighten the PS pump? Thanks for the help.

I think it's one bolt under the a/c compressor, then one or two nuts/bolts to lightly loosen on the left side of the pump. All of my trucks have been a/c trucks without a/c lol, so I believe the power steering pump adjustment would tighten the belt on the a/c compressor. The power steering pump has to be pulled upwards to tighten.

Im not positive on the belt tensioning with an a/c belt. I would have to get my hands on it.

 

[Turbo4whl]

If the power steering pulley has two belts but the AC only has one, then tighten the P/S first, then the A/C compressor.