2 Days ago a friend and I changed my header gaskets, and we had to loosen my power steering pump to get to some of the bolts, we got the pump back on good, but now I notice that the pully (just the pully, not the pump) is wobbeling just a bit when the engine is running.

I dont' see how I can tighten the pully it self. How do I do this?

Also, now when I turn my wheel completely to the left or the right, it makes a loud clicking noise. I'm not sure on the noise, as it scared me so much I don't remember what it sounded like, but I will test it out today and hear it again.

Thanks!

 

There is no practical way to "tighten" the belt sheave on the PS pump - they are pressed on. If it is wobbling, it is bent, and you need a replacement. Did someone pry on the sheave to tighten the belt when it was getting intalled?

The "clicking" sound is from poor belt engagement and slippage at the bent spots. Is this an '87 or older car?

 

I got another look (and a video of it), and when I turn the wheel all the way, the pump makes a "grinding/scraping" sound, and slows down almost to a stop. I don't think the pully is bent, because I can wiggle it (not much, but just a little).

All we did was loosen the bolts holding the brackets that hold the pump, we didn't actualy take the pump off, or pry on it, all we needed to do was to get one of the bolts loose so we could move another part to get to the header.

I am at class right now, but I will post up the video when I get home.

What format is good for you? .avi? .mov? name it, and I'll do that, what ever is best you yall.

Oh, my car is an 86 Iroc, but the engine is not the original engine. It looks like an 86 or older engine, because the valve covers have side bolts, and not center bolts.

 

Did you check the bolt on the outer most side of the pump (the one by the exhaust man.)?? Some times this one being loose will cause the pump to vibrate.

 

I'll check the bolts, maybe one got loose after we finished on the drive home. Here is the video, the screeching is when the whee reaches all the way at full turn, I let off, and did it again. You can see the pully almost come to a complete stop.

http://www.danielbuck.net/wip/pwrpump.mpg

 

In the video the pulley doesn't appear to be bent to badly. Does that screech sound occur turning in both directions? How is the tension? I was thinking that after you retightened the pump, the tension on the belt may not be adaquet. Just a thought.

 

how is the fluid level?
i have loosened them off and layed them over and they will leak some p/s fluid out.

 

Doesn't look bent to me judging by that video. Like Rusty said, check the fluid. Not sure what to say, I did notice that the pulley went around more than once before the *locking up* if you will. Which to me, means it's not bent because if it was bent it would do it each revolution.

 

I had to add a bit of fluid, because we checked it when we put everything back together, and it was low. But that was before I noticed this problem.

I actualy added a little bit to much, could that be a problem? Not a LOT to much, but maybe a centameter to much on the stick.

Could that be the problem?

I'm not 100% sure it does this in both directions, but I'm fairly sure it does. I'll check tomorrow. In the video, I turned the wheel all the way to the right.

I have not noticed any difference in the steering, untill I "over steer" and hear that sound.

The pully wobbles ever so slightly, you can't tell in the video. Thats how little it wobbles.

The belt is a little bit loose, but not nearly loose enough to pull off by hand, just a little looer than normal. I'll try tightening it up, but somehow I don't think that could be the problem. I'll try it anyway.


Thanks for the help guys! Keep the suggestions coming!

 

Page Not Found,

I can see by the video that the belt is loose, since it is riding out of the sheave. Since it's been slipping, it is probably also now glazed. The fact that you no longer have an AC compressor and the assist from the second belt isn't helping either. I'd suggest replacing the belt.

The slight overfill of the reservoir is no problem at all.

Just to make sure everything else is in order, you probably should raise the front end, grease all the fittings, and turn the wheels lock-to-lock a few times to distribute the grease.

 

I'll do that, thanks

Not sure why the vid isn't working

 

Error,

I had no problems loading the video. The "Page not Found" thing was a salutation. "Error 404" is an HTML error code for page/object not found, IIRC.

Make sure you get all the adjsuting nuts and bolts - there are several.

 

ahh... it's to early for me to understand jokes

haha!

Any way, I'll check all the bolts again, and if that doesn't work, I'll loosen them all, and reposition the pump, and tighten them all down again. And if THAT doesn't work, I'll get a new belt.

Thanks!