Belt / PS pump noise?

[GECCO]

Hello all - a few weeks ago I was getting some high pitched noise from the front of the motor, I intially thought I was loosing a bearing on one of the pulleys but it quit on it's own before I could really nail it down. Well, it's back and I have determined it is coming from the power steering pump (the noise is definitely coming from that area and changes significantly if I put in any steering intput while the truck is sitting and idling).



My first thought was to check belt tension and found out that it has an automatic tensioner. Has anyone heard anything about problems with the power steering pump bearings? I can't quite determine if I am hearing a bad bearing or belt squeal... . I thought about putting some "belt dressing" on it, figuring if that fixes it I can assume the bearing is ok and look into getting a new belt.



Thoughts?

 

[swexlin]

Well, some of these trucks have had a belt shredding problem - mine and others. Do a search on "belt shredding" on here and on DTR, and you will have hours of reading.

 

[GECCO]

Thanks, Swexlin. I had read about the shredding in the past but didn't think this seemed like exactly the same thing #ad




I went down a few minutes ago to take the belt off and inspect it. Right after I bought the truck I found some pieces of belt under the hood and thought it had already suffered a "shred". Now I realize that it may not have completely shredded in the past, I think this is the original belt but it had jumped over one groove and the "overhanging" rib is gone. I think what I found before was the part that's missing from this belt. Either way, a new belt is in order and I will keep this one in the truck as a spare. When I have it off I will inspect the power steering pump and see if that bearing seems ok.



I called around for a belt, no one had one on the shelf, and holy crap are they expensive ($50-$60). Oh, well, this truck is worth it!