Power steering belt noise

[Shayne]

Posted for Jim Downing by Admin
9/17/01
Question:I have spent the last year fighting the almost constant noise from the slipping belt on the power steering. Should there be a lock washer behind the adjusting bolt? I have used three foot long pipes as leverage when I tighten the belt and it will last about ten miles and then that damn noise comes back again. Any ideas? Thanks for your great web site.
Jim Downing, ACOC #3127
9/22/01
Answer: Jim - The total , answer to your problem , You will find in the Tips & Hints section of the web sight. {as well as in back news letters]. In Tips and hints . Pull up 2-14-01 ,Replacement & Spare Parts. The last item on the section is "worth while modifications". Get this two belt pulley from a ford dealer , and put it on your power steering pump , along with two new belts , [or Have it done]. And your problems are over. What you are currently doing, [over tightening], will only destroy your power steering pump , and water pump. Good clippering.
Bob Chaney #2626.
9/21/01
Answer:Jim, I'd try replacing both the adjusting bolt and the belt. While the belt is off, rotate the PS pump pulley to make sure it doesn't wobble. Also make sure the pump mounting bolts are tight and that the pivot bolt is tight. Try to confirm that the pulley is parallel with the other pulleys. Then rough the v with emery cloth to remove glazing. Install a new belt and new adjusting bolt with a nice thick properly sized flat washer and lock washer. If that doesn't solve the squeak, get earplugs. Good luck.
Eric Gibbons, ACOC #3021

[Conrad]

Bob Chaney, I too have a belt squeal.  Your dual pulley suggestion sounded promising but my 76 Dodge 360 crankshaft pully is fully loaded.  I have the dual pully alternator and the single pully PS pump.  All three of which are powered from the crankshaft.

Is there a way to tell if the water pump is starting to sieze up?  

My first trouble indication was on a return trip this last summer.  The squeal started around 50 to 55 mph.  Now I hear it when I goose the engine off of idle.  It doesn't stay noisy but the squeal sounds when the engine ramps up to a higher rpm.  I am ok with replacing the pump but if anyone has some good troubleshooting tips about water pumps/PS pumps, I would appreciate hearing from you.  Might save some time and money.

[junebob]

Water pumps can be checked by loosening ,or removing your belts, then spin the pump checking for noise or looseness.Often ,but not always.A water pump that is dying will leak coolant out of the small hole in the casting under the pump shaft.A water pump will ussually make a grinding or growling noise long before it gives up.A couple of years ago We had one keep working over 5000 miles after it got noisy.As a matter of fact ,by the time we got home it was so loose and sloppy it also took the bearings out of the alternator.Bob Chaney #2626

[Conrad]

Thanks Bob. appreciate that troubleshooting tip.  I had some input from co-workers that I need to check on.  I have dual belts on the alternator.  I recently went to fill the propane tank and noted that the squeal was still there when quickly putting a load on the engine (going uphill).  I also noted the squeal when I rapidly un-loaded the engine (going downhill).  It is just a short squeal, doesn't last long.  I may have loose belts on the alternator.  Will let you know when I know.

[candleman]

I fixed this problem on my clipper. This is how I did it. I got down  under the frontend on the power steering pump side. I sighted down the pully. I shimmed the power steering pump bracket to line up with  the engine and water pump pully.

I also did one other thing after this. I went to the hardware store and bought a turn-buckle. I attached one side of the turn buckle to a bracket on the engine block, and the other side to the power steering pump. I was able to apply just the right amount of tension on the belt with the turn buckle. I think it also provided extra stability for the power steering pump.

I used to leak fluid and have skweeky belts all the time. My fluid consumption dropped and no more skweeks.

Oh, by the way, I have a 76 21' with 440.