Power steering pump shaft end play

[jltcasper3]

The other day i start my truck, went back inside, came out and my belt was squeeling, so i popped the hood and the belt was a 1/4 way off the ps pully, so i pulled it into the shop and put it on, and ran it. The belt edge was a little worn so i got a new belt to replace it with, When i took the belt off i spun all the pullys and checked everyhting out and found that my ps pump has about a 1/16 inch or so end play.



I think there is suppose to be 0 end play, what am i suppose to have?



I put the new belt on(what a **tch to chang by the way, its worse than some compact cars). I ran it and it seems ok . The belt is tight. No ps leaks or noise either.



Any body else have this?

 

[rbattelle]

That's an interesting question. I would say 1/16" doesn't sound like much, but if the new belt does what the old one did, then you must have a problem.

The service manual doesn't specify what the acceptable end play is.

Ryan

 

[RKerner]

There should be no end play in the PS pump shaft. you may want to get it checked out - my pump shaft snapped shortly after a vibration in the brake pedal. the brakes came back after the pump was replaced. You also may want to check the fluid for metal as that would be a sure sign the pump is on its way out.

 

[PWall]

My 03 was running just fine and then for some reason when I backed off a small curb one afternoon and my power steering just vanished. . None what so ever. Then the clunk!!!! There had been no noticable noise coming from that side of the motor and the belt was tight intact. The pully and the p/s shaft fell completely out and on the ground... The pump was just over four months old and installed by Dodge. The worst part was while trying to straighten out the truck, the inside left tire ran over it. Dodge said SORRY