90 F350, 460, AC, 5 speed 98k mi
Just replaced both belts (yes this truck has 2, one runs alt, smog, water other runs AC, PS pump, water) alt belt is tensioned by alt. PS/AC belt is tensioned by spring idler. After about 600 mi the PS belt starts squealing on PS pulley. I know better but I am traveling and squirted some belt dressing on it and made it worse.
My question is: When the belt is off how much resistance should be felt when hand turning the PS pulley? I get pretty good resistance when turning clockwise(motor rotation facing motor) and little counterclockwise. Might it be helpful to drain or suck out as much PS fluid as possible and refill? I already plan to remove both belts and wash with hot soapy water and do same to pulleys. It just makes me nervous, I have many miles to drive from Utah to Texas and places I will be have little services.
Also, PS pump makes no noise and does not leak. There is no felt resistance when turning the steering wheel. Doesnt even make any noise or squealing when turned to full stop. PS pump doesnt leak. Just squeal above about 1500 rpm and after it has been run 75 mph (interstate speed limit out here) for about 30 min it stops alltogether till it cools down.
Replies, help and suggestions or just condolences for driving Ford are appreciated.

 

if you are nervous about belts than buy new ones and keep these as spares.

to drain fluid you can use turkey baster to remove fluid.

do you have the correct fluid in pump?

 

I have never really had to add PS fluid in any quantity and when I did it was always PS fluid not trans fluid. Havent seen one in years but they used to sell a cheap hand pump for filling manual trans. I was going to try to find one of those. I just dont like the belt squealing when I'm 1300 mi from home. Other than that it's a very strong truck. Oh and a belt wont help if the PS pump locks up. But one good thing about the two belt setup if you lose one you still have waterpump no matter what.

 

advance or any other auto parts store has pump you mention.

when i replaced my hoses when i bought truck because one had a small leak, i used lucas trans fluid. i have had very good luck with lucas products in every vehicle i used them in. pump before made noise after never ever hear it.


from owners manual:

Use only powersteering fluid that:
meets Ford’s Specification ESW-M2C33-F,such as Ford Premium
Power Steering Fluid, E6AZ-19582-AA or an equivalentType F
AutomaticTransmission Fluid with a Ford registration number (an8-digitnumber beginningwith“2P”printedonthefluid container).