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Power steering pump dying?

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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 09:04 PM
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Power steering pump dying?

Hello guys and galls. My truck has been making some odd noises (mainly a marbles in a can / crunching noise) and I believe I've found it tonight. Whatever it is, it has to do with my steering system. I'm fairly sure it's the power steering pump.

Questions;

Have you had a pump go bad before? What kind of noises did it make?

What am I going to need to do to change it out?

How much should I look at paying for a power steering pump? Assuming this is the problem.

If it is the power steering pump, why would it make those weird crunching rattling noises? When I put the truck in neautral it goes away. This makes me think it's not the pump; but what else could it be?

For the life of me, I cannot make my truck make this noise around my dad. And my truck will make the noise almost the entire time I'm driving it - except when I come around my dad, who would know for sure what it is. I sweat, it's a gremlin! I plan on buying the pump tomorrow.

Thanks everyone!
 
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Old Jul 14, 2008 | 07:31 AM
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If you can get the noise with the truck stationary get a length of rubber or plastic hose, place one end on the PS pump and the other tight against your ear. You should be able to isolate the source of the noise. If it is the PS pump I would have thought the noise would change as you turn the steering wheel and why would it stop when you shift into N?
 
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Old Jul 14, 2008 | 07:46 AM
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First remove the serpentine belt and rotate the accessory and idler pulleys by hand to see if you can fine one that is rough and/or loose. I had a similar problem on my old truck and it turned out to be the bearings in the idler pulley, I couldn't find the source of the problem either until it finally spit the idler wheel and belt off going down the road.
 
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Old Jul 14, 2008 | 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Lazy K
If you can get the noise with the truck stationary get a length of rubber or plastic hose, place one end on the PS pump and the other tight against your ear. You should be able to isolate the source of the noise. If it is the PS pump I would have thought the noise would change as you turn the steering wheel and why would it stop when you shift into N?
It DOES make that crunching noise when I turn my wheels. It started doing that more severely last night, and thus I was able to determain it was coming from my steering. It would make the noise on a constant note just sitting too. I put it in N and it went away. I don't remember if it made the crunching noise in N while I turned my wheels.

Well, I'm going to see about changing out that pump tonight. I'm hoping that's all it is, but honestly I think it's the idler pulley or one of the pulleys.

Originally Posted by Conanski
First remove the serpentine belt and rotate the accessory and idler pulleys by hand to see if you can fine one that is rough and/or loose. I had a similar problem on my old truck and it turned out to be the bearings in the idler pulley, I couldn't find the source of the problem either until it finally spit the idler wheel and belt off going down the road.
This makes me nervous. My truck has ate a few belts lately. This newest belt has been doing fine so far. If it is the idler pulley, how would I know? By simply feeling if it's loose? If it is loose or shot, when I rotate it by hand will it make noise? This sounds to me like this is more the problem.


I hate not knowing for sure what the problem is.
 
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Old Jul 14, 2008 | 09:52 AM
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Yeah.. you'll know immediately if the idler wheel is the problem.. it should spin freely if you give it a flick and not rattle around, it's just caged ball bearings and should be smooth. I don't believe the bearings are removable on these either, you'll have to get another wheel if it's toast.
 
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Old Jul 14, 2008 | 07:28 PM
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I found out where that noise was coming from. Not my front end as previously thought. The pipe that goes from my cat to my air pump broke at the weld. When I turned my tires, my frame would twist and the rod would clack tap and rattle against my frame. I took my truck to the muffler guy and had him weld it back again.

Sorry for wasting your time guys. I really did think something in my steering was going out. How was I supposed to know the noise wasn't coming from my front end when the noise would happen when I turned my tires?

All in all I'm glad it was a $10 fix not a $100 with work. I think it's funny, now.


 
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