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Ls1 powersteering whine

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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 12:02 PM
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Car: 1992 RS
Engine: 01' LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt auburn pro posi, 4.10 gears
Ls1 powersteering whine

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
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 01:27 PM
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From: Canada,Ont
Car: 1987 TransAm Ttop
Engine: 2005 LQ4
Transmission: Ls1 T56
Axle/Gears: 3:54
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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.
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 05:24 PM
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From: Washington State
Car: 1983 BB 1995 Z28 Camaro's
Engine: 454-350
Transmission: TH350-4l60e
Axle/Gears: 373 posi-Stock
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

Yes it will take a new pump to fix that noise.
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 07:56 AM
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From: CT
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: 01' LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt auburn pro posi, 4.10 gears
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 10:04 AM
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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
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 10:10 AM
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From: Kansas
Car: 91 Z28
Engine: 6.0L LQ9
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Dana 44 3.92
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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.
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 10:28 AM
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From: NH
Car: 1967 Firebird P.T.
Engine: LS3 4" Strkr 422ci
Transmission: MN12 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.73 8.5" 10 Bolt Eaton
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

Originally Posted by STREETDEMON
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
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 06:28 PM
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From: Washington State
Car: 1983 BB 1995 Z28 Camaro's
Engine: 454-350
Transmission: TH350-4l60e
Axle/Gears: 373 posi-Stock
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

You be sure and let us know what works out for you.
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 06:49 PM
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From: CT
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: 01' LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt auburn pro posi, 4.10 gears
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 09:58 AM
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From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Car: 89 WS6 TransAm
Engine: LQ408
Transmission: T56 Magnum
Axle/Gears: Strange S60, 4.10s
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

Originally Posted by jimmy92rs
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.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 12:14 PM
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From: CT
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: 01' LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt auburn pro posi, 4.10 gears
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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
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Old Jun 27, 2012 | 10:28 AM
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From: PA
Car: 86 Trans AM
Engine: LS1 (not stock...)
Transmission: Built T56
Axle/Gears: Strange 12-bolt w/ 3.73
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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.
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Old Jun 28, 2012 | 06:16 AM
  #13  
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From: CT
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: 01' LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt auburn pro posi, 4.10 gears
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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.
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Old Jul 18, 2012 | 08:57 AM
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From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Car: 89 WS6 TransAm
Engine: LQ408
Transmission: T56 Magnum
Axle/Gears: Strange S60, 4.10s
Re: Ls1 powersteering whine

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.
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