Power Steering Pump Squeaking

[jpearsall187]

I have a 97 GTP that I put a new power steering pump in, and the pump has seemed to squeak since the time I put it in. It gets less once the car is warmed up. I am pretty sure its the power steering pump because if I spray WD40 behind the power steering pump pulley, the squeak temporarily goes away, but it always comes back. The belt is new. I probably will have to change out the pump, but anyone know what would cause this and is there a quick fix as opposed to taking off the pump and putting a new one on. I know, that sounds lazy.

[Scottydoggs]

if its squealing and hard to turn, its over johnny! hes the how to http://www.grandprixforums.net/power_steering_pump.php

edit: i just re read and you say you replaced it already and its squealing, it may be a bad pump, how long ago did you buy it and was there a warranty?

hard to the left usually means its time for a rack and pinion, my pump and rack both went out at the same time it would seem.

[jpearsall187]

OK. I replaced the power steering pump today and it is still chirping from the belt area. So, the power steering pump is new, the belt tensioner is new, I had the water pump off within the last two months and it seems ok. The harmonic balancer is new. Both the supercharger and drive belts are new. The other idler pulleys seems to turn fine and don't feel like anything is wrong with them. Could this result from crud on the pulleys themselves? I have been spraying WD40 around to try to find where they chirp is coming from. It seemed to go away when I sprayed down by the power steering pump, but maybe it was just getting on the belt? If thats the case, why would the chirp go away?

[Scottydoggs]

the wd-40 is lubing the belt, so it wont squeak till it burns off.

if the groves in your pulleys are full of crap. you can clean them with a scrub brush and soapy water, and rinse them off.

or if it still squeaks after cleaning them, maybe try some belt dressing.

[jpearsall187]

I think I fixed it. A few months back when I was working on the water pump, I broke a bolt from the power steering pump off in the engine block. Two shops tried to get it out but couldn't. They actually ground down some parts of the block upon which the power steering pump sits. After I managed to get the broken bolt out myself, I tried to build the areas back up with JB weld, but I guess I did not do a good job, as when I looked closely at the power steering pump today, the pump was tilted somewhat causing the pulley to not be completely in line with the rest of the pulleys. I used an aluminum plate behind the pump and now it sits properly and there is no noise yet. Fingers crossed.

[FordMan77]

That should take care of it. You were causing the belt to not ride squarely across the pullies, hence it squeaked. Just dealt with this on my Bonne.