I just recently completed a ls1/t56 swap in my 92 camaro. Engine runs strong but I have a powersteering whine that won't go away. Fluid is up to level and there isn't any leaks. The engine has 41000 on it. Anybody else run into this? Could it be that the powersteering pump isn't strong enough for the steering gear? Need help. Thanks

 

Start shopping for a pump if its whining and has proper fluid level.My pump had a whine..which eventually started leaking..and then the plastic pulley literally flew off the pump itself which is quite common.Luckily I had bought my spare before it all happened and upgraded to a steel/billet pulley.

 

Yes it will take a new pump to fix that noise.

 

im going to try to suck out possible air in system with vacuum pump and see if that works. if not its time for a pump

 

Ive found that having the engine running,take the cap off the reservoir and slowly turn the wheel from lock to lock has always gotten all the air out of the system and add more fluid accordingly.

Id say keep driving it as is and get a good pump..not the chinese knockoffs lol.Take my word about the plastic pulley.Do a search on here and you will see my thread about how and where the pulley came off the pump itself but the metal sleeve of the pulley was still on the pump! I was not happy that day..luckily as i said..i bought complete spare pump with new reservoir assembly etc.Good luck

 

99% sure its not air....get a new pump and save yourself some time.

also i used a pontiac montana 3.4l power steering pulley on mine....has access windows for the bolts. 1500 miles and no issues.

 

i also had used that pulley on my swap, dont forget, a new, different length belt is needed when using that pulley K090 i believe

 

You be sure and let us know what works out for you.

 

It's hard to believe a power steering pump would be bad after only having 41k on it. But u never know. I'll let u know how I make out.

 

Mine too has a whine, with the pump only having about 20K miles on it, but it had sat on the shelf for some time before I installed it. I'm going to try working the steering back and forth for a while first to ensure all air is bled.

I am wondering if the route the high pressure hose takes that it could be trapping air. Going to start shopping for the replacement as well...

I'll let you know if I have any success as well.

 

I tried bleeding the air out of it some more with a vacuum hand pump, but there still is a whine in the system. Ill guess ill be getting a replacement. I was thinking about that too the route of the pressure hose. but as long as it it below the reservour and not the highest point, it shouldnt trap air. Ill let u know if the new pump fixes it

 

Yup...new pump time.

For the record, I dont think these pumps are underpowered for our steering gears. If anything, they are over powered. Many guys have played with the pressure springs to try to dial it back. I feel that my steering is too light with the quick ratio gear and LS1 pump.

Thanks for the pulley idea! I want to get a new pulley and didnt hear about the Montana version until now!

J.

 

new pump fixed the problem. quiet as can be! pump must have been run dry at some point. I got this engine out of a wreck, so it might have been from then.

 

I seem to have gotten away lucky. I topped up the pump with Lucas power steering fluid three times between drives, with the whine slowly going away each drive.

Took quite a while to get things bled by just driving it around, but now the level has remained stable and the whine is gone.