Noises

Need some help please. 95 3.4, M/T 4wd, 250,5xx miles. We have a planned trip to the Boise, Id area for some off-roading leaving on Tuesday. The truck has developed a rotational growling noise that the stethescope says is coming from the P/S pump. Fluid is at the correct level. Once everything is up to operating temp this goes away. Yesterday on the way to have the oil changed (I have a place that does them for less than I can buy the oil & filter & they do good work) there was a high pitched squeal that increases with RPM. This went away before I got to the shop less than 2 miles away. Happened again this morning after about 10 miles of driving. Since I can't seem to replicate this in the garage I have no idea. Any thoughts about going ahead with the trip? Should I pre-emtivley replacing the P/S pump? Any ideas on the squeal? Appreciate any help ASAP.

 

A belt noise or the pump...

 

The squeal might be either a loose belt or the pump is starting to seize .

look to see if the belt is glazed from slipping.

Have you ever Changed The ATF in the pump??

The quality of parts these days The one you get might fail before the one in there now.

Not that I would want to venture off Road with no Power Steering as long as the fluid is in the rack no major damage! Parking Sucks But it is possible to get around.

My Power Steering just Quit not a Sound.

 

Possibly just need to change the PS fluid out

 

Belts are reasonably new & tight.

Don't see any evidence of glazing.
Yes, but it has been awhile.

 

Well, I’d replace the tensioner pulley before it decides to explode on the highway when you’re 300 miles from home but you do you! Good luck!

 

Might be worth pulling out as much of the ATF as you can from the reservoir, cleaning the screen at the bottom, and putting fresh ATF in there.

https://youtu.be/5k61KXRK8bM?si=PXopboXqZbf6FjfD

 

Any idea where I can a tensioner pulley by tomorrow?

I will do that.

 

OE Toyota part. No, hurry but I’d have one with me to change out when it’s convenient for you because it sucks sleeping in a dealership parking lot for the weekend.

 

I put this Duralast Idler Pulley one on my truck about 8 months ago, no problems so far. Got it at AutoZone for $30 rather than $150 for the OEM one from the local dealer.

Keep your OEM one though and you can replace the bearing with these

$17 6301-2RS Bearing - Lubricated Chrome Steel Sealed Ball Bearing - 12x37x12mm Bearings with Rubber Seal & High RPM Support

6301-2RS bearings (they were like $10 for two bearings on Amazon).

 

Is the Duralsat pulley 231038 @Red_03Taco showed what you are referring to?

 

Do I need a tutorial to replace the pulley or is it obvious how to do it?

 

Is this
Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid 1 Quart
OK for the P/S fluid

 

Yes, he was referring to that pulley. The Duralast one may not be on par with OEM quality, but it's decent and purportedly uses the same

$17 6301-2RS Bearing - Lubricated Chrome Steel Sealed Ball Bearing - 12x37x12mm Bearings with Rubber Seal & High RPM Support

6301-2RS bearing as OEM.

Changing it is a breeze. I believe it's (2)12mm nuts, (might be 14mm). Just loosen the front locking nut, then loosen the adjuster around back to put slack in the belt, so the pulley can be removed easily by hand. Then place new pulley in, tighten adjuster till belt tension appears appropriate, then tighten front locking nut. 5 min tops. Here's a video to for visual aid:

https://youtu.be/8ehoRUcGsV4?si=IUYNsWcAM0vr4ncb

Edit: remember to swap the dust shield (large round convex washer looking thing on the front of the idler pulley, located between the locking nut and the pulley) from the OEM pulley to the Duralast one.

Also save the OEM pulley housing and when the Duralast one craps the bed, just replace the bearing on your OEM idler pulley.

 

That will work

 

Thanks guys. Gonna tackle it tomorrow.

 

If I can do it, you can do it. Good luck!

 

Well......maybe I can. If I can figure out how to get the idler pulley off the stud. Pulley seized & broke the belt. (guess that was the squeal) Any thoughts about that? I hit it with PB Blaster & hopefully that will get it to let go. Won't be able to get back to it till tomorrow, as I have Dr appointments today. Had to scrub the trip to Idaho. At least the P/S fluid replacement went well.

 

Try turning the pulley nut the other way? Congrats on the ps fluid. I guess if you can do it, I can do it.

 

PB blaster or half ATF, half acetone and give it several applications. Worst case try some gentle heat on the pulley itself with a torch.