Power Steering Pump/Pulley Fix

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

Good day to all Lost Readers.

I have read and re read the posting from awhile ago regarding the power steering pump pulley friction and what may be causing it. I have the fan, shroud, belt all removed. With the power steering pump pulley attatched there is a lot of friction when trying to rotate it. Once I remove the pulley off the pump the triangle attatchment part on the pump rotates freely without any friction.

So this leaves me with an unknown solution. Is there a way to adjust the triangle attatchment part on the pump? Or will changing out the serp belt tensioner straighten out the power steering pulley so that it will not be so stiff?

I look forward to any and all who have found a solution for this scenerio on there own vehicle. Thanks

Peace,

Thomas

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2015 10:39 am

IIRC the power steering pump pulley has no bearing as it is simply bolted (3 bolts) to the front of the PS pump. As such there is no reason it should be hard to rotate and the thing it bolts to easy to rotate. However, if the pulley is rubbing against something when bolted in place then it would be hard to turn. I'd suggest taking a careful look at what it might be rubbing against which could be the serp belt tensioner. I frankly do not recall if that tensioner normally rubs on the PS pulley when the tensioner is relaxed but I do recall that a failed/failing serp belt tensioner will "lean" into the PS pulley.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2015 11:41 am

If the power steering pulley is installed incorrectly it won't rotate properly.
There is a round notch in the pulley that allows for proper alignment.

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

Thanks for the quick replies. Currently at work but will take another closer look once I get home. If the tensioner is the concern do I have to buy a new tensioner bracket and tensioner? Does the new tensioner come with the pulley or is that a seperate item?

Also, does any one know what the biggest pulley that is located the closest to the bottom of the vehicle is for? There is no spin in that fellow and am wondering if that could be another concern.

Peace.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2015 1:39 pm

The big pulley at the bottom is the crankshaft.
Most people use a long wrench to turn it.

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

With the serp belt off should the crankshaft pulley spin freely?

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2015 2:34 pm

No that's impossible; think about it. The serpentine belt, while driven by the crank pulley, runs stuff on the outside of the engine (AC, power steering, viscous heater, alternater). The crank pulley is directly connected to the crank shaft to which the pistons are attached and thru the timing mechanism (belt of the CRD; chain or gears on other engines) so as to run everything inside the engine in time.

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

Good point. That was an ill thought out question.

After further inspection of the ps pulley it is the tenioner it is rubbing on. I will install a new tensioner and see if that prevents the serp belt from riding forward on the pulley's and shredding itself apart.

Thanks for the insight.

Peace.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2015 10:10 am

The serp belt tensioner is essentially a spring and a pulley (same size pulley as the serp belt idlers) and doesn't normally go bad although of course its pulley bearing can go out. If it's leaning into the PS pulley chances are you have or had a bad alternator decoupler pulley. When that pulley fails to function properly it causes the tensioner to constantly bounce around which results in premature spring failure.

So bottom line is you need to check out the alternator decoupler pulley.

FYI it cannot be replaced with a solid pulley or a simple clutch pulley.

Power Steering Pump/Pulley Fix

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