LTX and LSX Putting LT1s, LS1s, and their variants into Third Gens is becoming more popular. This board is for those who are doing and have done the swaps so they can discuss all of their technical aspects including repairs, swap info, and performance upgrades.

Sent my power steering pulley flying today

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Old Apr 9, 2012 | 07:31 PM
  #1  
86White_T/A305's Avatar
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From: Canada,Ont
Car: 1987 TransAm Ttop
Engine: 2005 LQ4
Transmission: Ls1 T56
Axle/Gears: 3:54
Sent my power steering pulley flying today

So over the past couple weeks of doing my lq4 swap Ive been plagued with problems with my power steering.I had hidden leaks and after replacing all the seals and taking my pulley off/on a few times I found that my leak was on the high pressure line itself and finally replaced it and ended what I though was my issue.From all the fluid leaking onto my alternator..it died last week and I replaced it with a truck 140amp alternator.All was well...A solid week of no leaks..working charging system..I was having fun beating on my car again.

Jump to today,nice bright sunny day.I was home and felt like going to get a nice coffee this afternoon.I take my ttops off and start her up for a few mins to warm up.Got my sun glasses on..jumped in and began to depart from my driveway.As I started to turn the wheel it felt like I was just hit the fully turned wheel lock but the wheels were straight.Hmm so I try turning the wheel a lil harder in both directions..not even 1/4 turn and it stops WTF.Popped the hood and im looking and see no reason for the symptoms but I noticed small pieces of belt shavings..uh oh I thought.So I figured the ps pump is probably shot and locking up.I start driving and give her hell and cranked the wheel saying F you...I got ten feet and see a cloud of smoke pour out under the hood lol.Shut er down..open the hood and notice a few things.My belt was still at my driveway intact for the most part,the ps pulley sheered right off the press fitting and went the opposite direction down my street,my ps reservoir was melted almost in half by my belt.

Luckily I had a spare pulley and reservoir bnib so the repair was done in a timely fashion but wow..do these plastic pulleys come off from the center often...why are they even plastic to begin with lol.I hope there are steel replacements..I can see this happening again the way I drive haha.
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Old Apr 9, 2012 | 08:15 PM
  #2  
Dakota W.'s Avatar
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From: Aloha, Oregon
Car: 1991 Christine Z28
Engine: RV Cam and Intake 350 SBC
Transmission: 5speed
Axle/Gears: 3.08 ls Posi
Re: Sent my power steering pulley flying today

Not to be mean or anything but I clicked kind of hoping to hear about a pulley sent through the hood lol. Glad it wasn't anything major though!
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Old Apr 9, 2012 | 08:23 PM
  #3  
86White_T/A305's Avatar
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Canada,Ont
Car: 1987 TransAm Ttop
Engine: 2005 LQ4
Transmission: Ls1 T56
Axle/Gears: 3:54
Re: Sent my power steering pulley flying today

Lol yea it did bounce in there once or twice. Glad it wasn't major and that I had spares...driving this thing with no belt sucked the most
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Old Apr 9, 2012 | 08:40 PM
  #4  
Dakota W.'s Avatar
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,178
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From: Aloha, Oregon
Car: 1991 Christine Z28
Engine: RV Cam and Intake 350 SBC
Transmission: 5speed
Axle/Gears: 3.08 ls Posi
Re: Sent my power steering pulley flying today

When I was trying to figure out what was squeaking on my car I ran the car without the belt on and I couldn't resist driving it a little bit...BIG difference in acceleration without the belt lol.
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Old Apr 9, 2012 | 09:01 PM
  #5  
86White_T/A305's Avatar
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,266
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From: Canada,Ont
Car: 1987 TransAm Ttop
Engine: 2005 LQ4
Transmission: Ls1 T56
Axle/Gears: 3:54
Re: Sent my power steering pulley flying today

lol i bet there was..and thats because how fast these motors build up heat.I drove the car maybe 15 mins away to the shop and it began to overheat without the belt but luckily my fans work very well
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Old Apr 10, 2012 | 12:04 AM
  #6  
Z28 MeTaL HeAd's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 131
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From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Car: 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Engine: Carb'd LT1 w/ a Cam :)
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" w/ 3.75 gears
Re: Sent my power steering pulley flying today

That happened to a buddy of mine on his 2000 LS1 6-speed T/A. EXACT same thing happened.

The reservoir melted where it meets the pump, and he drove with no PS fluid in the pump for a couple days, then one day the thing just went flying, pulley went flying somewhere with the belt on the 401.

I put a new reservoir on the pump and a new pulley and it was fine after that.

It started after some seriousssly high RPM doughnuts, burnouts and drifts. Thos stock f-body PS pumps dont like being revved super high for long period of time. You can change the pump to an aftermarket one to cure the problem, and ive heard running a large aftermarket PS cooler helps a lot too.
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