Power Steering Squeal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

orange72350 · 12-16-2003, 01:51 PM

Ever since i swapped engines in my trcuk, the power steering sounds horrible. While the enignes were being swapped, the belts sat outside in the cold for apporixamltey 4 weeks. will this ruin a belt? also, i screwed up and forgot to plug the top inlet to the power steering box while the truck sat outside. The pump is nearly new, but not sure about the age of the gear box. Will abelt squeal more when load is put on the power steering pump? when we started up the engine, my buddy ran the power steering dry for nealry 5 minutes. i wasnt there when it happened, but will that ruin a pump? i hope not, cuase that was a 100 dollar pump. Anways, any help is much appreciated. Tahnx guys
dale

WRMZ71 · 12-16-2003, 01:56 PM

power steering pumps to an extent with a load on them should not squeal as long as the belts are good and they are also tight. As far as running it for only five minutes without any fluid I would hope it wouldn't fry it that fast but it is possible. The best thing to do is fill it up to the correct level and try it. The belts being left outside for 4 weeks could cause a problem if it was really cold. I would inspect them for any frays or dry cracking. If there cracked go ahead and replace them. Where you left your top connections on your steering gear box unplugged did you leave the hood down on the truck or was it in direct contact with the elements?
I would venture to say you should still be safe with your power steering pump and gear box, but I'd doublecheck the belts and then make sure there tight. Good luck

Slammed67 · 12-16-2003, 01:59 PM

Pump should be okay. I think the proper procedure for getting rid of the squeal (getting all the air out of the system) is to fill the reservior, jack the front end of the truck off the ground, then turn the wheel somewhat slowly from side to side until the squeal/air is gone.

WRMZ71 · 12-16-2003, 06:40 PM

Air in the system should not cause a squeal. Air in the system will cause the whining sound. The procedure that you said is correct but you don't necessarily have to put the front tires off the ground, it just helps. Squealing comes from four things, bad belts, loose belts, too tight of belts, or a bad pump.

ckhd · 12-16-2003, 07:55 PM

Belts are cheap. Replace it and see if it fixes it.

dinnut · 12-17-2003, 12:23 AM

ive ran without fluid for quite a while. my box leaks and i am constantly putting fluid in it

Longhorn Man · 12-17-2003, 12:42 AM

Air could cause a chirping/high pitched graoning that could be mistaken for squeeling.
I doubt the belt got damaged from the cold...it woulda been outside anyways, just under the hood.

blazer1971 · 12-17-2003, 03:13 AM

If the belts were too loose or too tight they can crystalize on the inner surface in a matter of minutes causing the belts to squeal even after correct tension is appplied.

12-16-2003, 01:51 PM	#1
orange72350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cold, Snowy High Level, Alberta Canada Eh Posts: 394	Power Steering Squeal Ever since i swapped engines in my trcuk, the power steering sounds horrible. While the enignes were being swapped, the belts sat outside in the cold for apporixamltey 4 weeks. will this ruin a belt? also, i screwed up and forgot to plug the top inlet to the power steering box while the truck sat outside. The pump is nearly new, but not sure about the age of the gear box. Will abelt squeal more when load is put on the power steering pump? when we started up the engine, my buddy ran the power steering dry for nealry 5 minutes. i wasnt there when it happened, but will that ruin a pump? i hope not, cuase that was a 100 dollar pump. Anways, any help is much appreciated. Tahnx guys dale __________________ 2003 yamaha raptor. Stock, but it still hauls!!!! 2000 skiddo mxz 700. Camoplast 1.5 inch track, jaws twin pipes, b+b can, custom built and weighted clutch, wiseco piston, high comp heads. its very fast. wow. 72 c-10 longbox. Bright Orange. Brand new 350, rv cam, performer intake, qjet, headers, 2 1/2 inch exhaust into hooker areo chamber mufflers. Body work coming soon. "dont let yer mind wander, its to little to go places by itself." "Forget the herse, cause i'll never die"-ACDC Back In Black "If It's To Loud, Yer Just Too Old" "I Love Anything Fast Enough To Do Something Stupid In" "Instant idiot, just add beer!!""

12-16-2003, 01:59 PM	#3
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	Pump should be okay. I think the proper procedure for getting rid of the squeal (getting all the air out of the system) is to fill the reservior, jack the front end of the truck off the ground, then turn the wheel somewhat slowly from side to side until the squeal/air is gone. __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

12-16-2003, 07:55 PM	#5
ckhd Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: St. Johns, Arizona Posts: 2,660	Belts are cheap. Replace it and see if it fixes it. __________________ my 2¢ - t.i.o.l.i. Bowen 1968 K20 fleet 1969 K10 swb fleet 1972 K10 Suburban 1972 C10 lwb step 1992 K1500 'burb 1995 K2500 'burb 1997 C1500 'burb 1999 K1500 2000 K1500 'burb Why do I own so many Suburbans?

12-17-2003, 12:23 AM	#6
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	ive ran without fluid for quite a while. my box leaks and i am constantly putting fluid in it __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

12-16-2003, 01:56 PM	#2
WRMZ71 Cause the Chicks DIG IT!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beaufort SC Posts: 509	power steering pumps to an extent with a load on them should not squeal as long as the belts are good and they are also tight. As far as running it for only five minutes without any fluid I would hope it wouldn't fry it that fast but it is possible. The best thing to do is fill it up to the correct level and try it. The belts being left outside for 4 weeks could cause a problem if it was really cold. I would inspect them for any frays or dry cracking. If there cracked go ahead and replace them. Where you left your top connections on your steering gear box unplugged did you leave the hood down on the truck or was it in direct contact with the elements? I would venture to say you should still be safe with your power steering pump and gear box, but I'd doublecheck the belts and then make sure there tight. Good luck

12-16-2003, 06:40 PM	#4
WRMZ71 Cause the Chicks DIG IT!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beaufort SC Posts: 509	Air in the system should not cause a squeal. Air in the system will cause the whining sound. The procedure that you said is correct but you don't necessarily have to put the front tires off the ground, it just helps. Squealing comes from four things, bad belts, loose belts, too tight of belts, or a bad pump.

12-17-2003, 12:42 AM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Air could cause a chirping/high pitched graoning that could be mistaken for squeeling. I doubt the belt got damaged from the cold...it woulda been outside anyways, just under the hood.

12-17-2003, 03:13 AM	#8
blazer1971 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: apollo bch,fl. usa Posts: 134	If the belts were too loose or too tight they can crystalize on the inner surface in a matter of minutes causing the belts to squeal even after correct tension is appplied.



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