Wobbly PS Pulley

1996 Tacoma 5FE-ZE

I recently installed a now-suspect aftermarket power steering pump, which is sorta noisy and I get a screech on startup. I noticed that the pulley wobbles a bit. I wonder:

- Perhaps I didn't install the pulley quite right or tighten it properly
- Perhaps I overtightened the new belt
- Perhaps the bearing has already failed
- What the right thing to do is

Your input is appreciated, thank you.

 

Under warranty?

 

At the long stretch between the pulley and the engine, the belt should have about 1/2" of deflection when you push on it. A loose belt will give you a screech, but a tight one can too.

As for the noise, what did you use for fluid? Did you turn it full right/left on startup and re-check the fluid level?

Do you have a manual? Check the specs on the pulley.

I always suspect my work first before the part. The wobbling pulley sounds worrisome.

 

Any more i think poor quality parts slipped past inspection.

remove the belt if the bearing is bad it should be easy to feel .

Using your old pulley on the new pump shaft both worn enough to cause a problem ?

 

Update: I retightened the pulley bolt and it seems to have solve the wobble problem for now. I have no idea how I did not properly tighten it originally, but I'll keep a close eye on it going forward. I'll see if this alters the screeching and noisy PS issues as well.

 

I might be 100% wrong not enough coffee yet.

If I remember correct the adjuster pulley was more critical for adjustment then the pump pulley.

I only ever remember snugging the pump pulley up.

Did it come just the bare naked pump and everything needed to be swapped from your truck?



In any case glad it is working now,

 

Yeah I swapped the old pulley. Still getting a screech at start up. It's a complete mystery to me. At this point I have:

• Installed a new PS pump
• Had the PS fluid flushed professionally
• Installed a new belt
• Triple checked that the new belt has the correct tension

 

Does everything line up not that the belt is riding on the side of the pulley putting tension toward the front or back rather then where it should

Best of Luck!

 

What does the tension feel like on either of the longer spans of the belt? Did you loosen or change any of the other belts? If so, it may not be the PS belt.

See previous about 1/2" deflection, when you push on it with a little effort it should only move a half inch on any span of 12" or more. you can check it by measuring with a tape measure or ruler if you're not sure about "eyeballing it." There is a rather expensive tool for this purpose but you shouldn't have to go to that expense.

For spans less than 12", the deflection should only be about 1/4". I can't recall if the PS belt has a short span, but the AC belt has short spans on all sides. This is moderately useful because if you're not sure, check both long and short spans between pulleys.

 

Following up: the screech was from the AC belt. Tightening it up eliminated that issue entirely. Now there's the matter of the sorta-noisy aftermarket steering pump, but I think that's just how it will sound unless I replace it.

 

Thanks for being Honest about that.

 

Ha! Yeah I'm an amateur hack, but I always end up fixing up my Taco, even if I flail a bit at first