Steering Squeak

[79dentside]

Hey all, got another strange problem with the old truck. Been hearing a squeak at full lock, didn’t think much, but I went to the carwash to clean the undercarriage and now the steering is making this awful squeak and is even hanging up. What the heck is this???

Is it rack and pinion?

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[78C10BigTen]

Sounds to me like the ps pump. Just my opinion

 

[79dentside]

Sounds to me like the ps pump. Just my opinion

I just put one on because the other one shredded bearings at 2 years old and knocked. I put this one on a couple months ago, but I think we have an alignment issue... this might be why it shredded the bearings in the one that was put in the truck in 2018.... How do I fix this?

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[79dentside]

I was able to tighten the bracket just a bit more and it minimizes a lot of the squeak. Are my brackets bent so you think??

 

[SirRobyn0]

I was able to tighten the bracket just a bit more and it minimizes a lot of the squeak. Are my brackets bent so you think??

This is tough to tell in a picture and really not that easy even in person. Usually if a pulley is out of alignment by very much the belt will need to be tightened very often like as in every 100 or so, more or less depending on how out of alignment. Usually you'll end up tightening it much more than normal and after a few tightening is stretched out to the point where it can't be tightened anymore. If that belt has been on there for 2 years since the pump replacement I doubt it's out of alignment much if at all. Now I do see that is a double pully on the power steering pump. I assume that the other belt ran to the A/C compressor and now the A/C compressor is not working so the belt was removed? If that is the case that is a bit of a problem as more strain is put on the one single remaining belt, rather than the two it was meant to have. If it was me I'd replace the A/C compressor and get the second belt back on there. Bonus if you fix the A/C cold air and dual belts back on the power steering pump.

 

[79dentside]

This is tough to tell in a picture and really not that easy even in person. Usually if a pulley is out of alignment by very much the belt will need to be tightened very often like as in every 100 or so, more or less depending on how out of alignment. Usually you'll end up tightening it much more than normal and after a few tightening is stretched out to the point where it can't be tightened anymore. If that belt has been on there for 2 years since the pump replacement I doubt it's out of alignment much if at all. Now I do see that is a double pully on the power steering pump. I assume that the other belt ran to the A/C compressor and now the A/C compressor is not working so the belt was removed? If that is the case that is a bit of a problem as more strain is put on the one single remaining belt, rather than the two it was meant to have. If it was me I'd replace the A/C compressor and get the second belt back on there. Bonus if you fix the A/C cold air and dual belts back on the power steering pump.

Very observant, no I need a new belt for the AC compressor. It works just fine, I just haven’t purchased a new belt yet. It doesn’t bother me not having AC, I actually want to remove the unit which is why I haven’t purchased a belt yet.

To me, it looks out of alignment. I don’t know that it was out of line before because I didn’t think to check. Once I put this new pump on, it stands out to me now. Not sure I could have changed anything because the mounting points are pretty cut and dry with the bracketry?

 

[Bextreme04]

You need to get that second belt on and properly tension everything. That should get rid of the squeak. Right now you only have the single belt trying to turn that pump and it obviously isn't enough

 

[idahovette]

You need to get that second belt on and properly tension everything. That should get rid of the squeak. Right now you only have the single belt trying to turn that pump and it obviously isn't enough

Why are non-ac rigs quiet with only one belt on the ps? Just a question

 

[Bextreme04]

Why are non-ac rigs quiet with only one belt on the ps? Just a question

No idea... Mine is an AC rig also and had the same squeak when first started and especially when turning. It would probably be fine to just properly tension it, but if the compressor on his is fine, its much better to just put the right belt on and have double the surface area on the pulley. Belts are like $7 and readily available at any local parts store

 

[SirRobyn0]

Why are non-ac rigs quiet with only one belt on the ps? Just a question

I don't know the answer to the non-ac single belt on the p/s pump, and why that is ok. Without going to look up part numbers I wonder if the non-a/c rigs ran a wider belt, or a shorter belt, or a different pump that might have put less strain on the belt. Maybe I'm way off on those thoughts honestly they are just off the top of my head thoughts.

 

[AuroraGirl]

This is tough to tell in a picture and really not that easy even in person. Usually if a pulley is out of alignment by very much the belt will need to be tightened very often like as in every 100 or so, more or less depending on how out of alignment. Usually you'll end up tightening it much more than normal and after a few tightening is stretched out to the point where it can't be tightened anymore. If that belt has been on there for 2 years since the pump replacement I doubt it's out of alignment much if at all. Now I do see that is a double pully on the power steering pump. I assume that the other belt ran to the A/C compressor and now the A/C compressor is not working so the belt was removed? If that is the case that is a bit of a problem as more strain is put on the one single remaining belt, rather than the two it was meant to have. If it was me I'd replace the A/C compressor and get the second belt back on there. Bonus if you fix the A/C cold air and dual belts back on the power steering pump.

What do you mean two belts? Did the AC compressor belt go around the crankshaft and use the PS pump as a idler? I thought the belt ran off the PS pump and turned the compressor. I guess I never thought of it, never had one.

 

[Jethro224]

Looks out of line in the pic. Like maybe it needs a washer behind the bottom mount.
Check it with a straight edge across the balancer pulley. Should be the same top to bottom and sideways.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Is my crankshaft pulley missing a groove?

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[SirRobyn0]

What do you mean two belts? Did the AC compressor belt go around the crankshaft and use the PS pump as a idler? I thought the belt ran off the PS pump and turned the compressor. I guess I never thought of it, never had one.

On my truck the Alt belt goes around the crank and water pump. one belt goes around the p/s pump and crank only. The other one goes around the crank, water pump, p/s and a/c.

Is my crankshaft pulley missing a groove?

You must be registered for see images attach

Compared to one with A/C yes it is. The odd thing in your picture is the water pump has two groves, the p/s has two groves, but the crank does not. Is it suppose to have A/C?

 

[AuroraGirl]

The engine had provisions for an AC compressor.. maybe my grandpa put a different crankshaft pulley on? for some reason?