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Still have HORRIBLE BELT SQUEAL after $1000 and 5 Trips to Firest

jggaddy2

By jggaddy2
in Ask A GM Technician

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jggaddy2 New Member

jggaddy2

Posted
Posted

Hi,

 

I'm new to the forum and I hope someone can help me. I have a squeal that just won't die. It's a 2001 Silverado 1500 with the 4.8 engine.

 

I'm going try try and lay this out logically in chronological order. About a year ago, I bought this truck and everything was dandy. Great truck, no problems. I then lost power steering one day and had Firestone replace the power steering pump. Since then there has been a terrible squeal. To correct this squeal we have:

 

1) replaced the tensioner pulley and belt which worked for a short period of time before beginning to squeal again. The squeal started only during turns and then gradually went to a full time shrill squeal.

 

2) replaced tensioner housing. Same thing...stops for a while then starts squealing during turns, then gradually goes full time again.

 

3)tried belt conditioner...makes squeal infinitely worse

 

4)replace water pump and radiator hoses...same thing...squeal stops for 75-100 miles then starts again during turns then gradually back to full time.

 

Every time Firestone does any work, it works for about 100 miles then starts again during turns then back to full time. Currently, its back to squealing full time. When I start the engine sometimes it sounds at first like when you put a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle. That choppy tat tat tat tat sound. Then that usually goes away and the squealing starts. Always loud squeal and worse during turns.

 

If anyone has any advice it's greatly appreciated. I want to love my Chevy, but I can't right now!!!

 

Josh

sahls01gmc Senior Enthusiast

sahls01gmc

Posted
Posted

Sounds like all the parts you replaced are not the one that is the problem. Have you checked every pulley? What about the power steering pulley? A/C pulley and tensioner? The A/C is a separate belt and pulley and tensioner than the engine on my 6.0l.

 

After reading your post again, I would put 99% of my time and energy into looking at the power steering pump that was replaced.

 

No squeal before you lost power steering correct? And then you notice a squeal when you turn, and all the time since you have replaced power steering parts? I would look back into that....and Firestone could be the culprit there.

 

Good luck. Post up what you find out.

jggaddy2 New Member

jggaddy2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
@sahls01gmc

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep you guys posted. I'm gonna be going back to good ol' Firestone later this week...

oldscsc Enthusiast

oldscsc

Posted
Posted

Remove belt and measure power steering pump pulley runout by eyeballing or with a dial indicator. I'm willing to bet the pulley is out of round.

txab Senior Enthusiast

txab

Posted
Posted

Also check alignment of pulleys across the face. And quit using Firestone

NitroCherokee Enthusiast

NitroCherokee

Posted
Posted

Also check alignment of pulleys across the face. And quit using Firestone

X2

 

I am betting since to replace that pump the pulley has to removed and pressed back on they F'd it up

jggaddy2 New Member

jggaddy2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Point taken! I'm definitely done with these jokers after I get my money's worth. (if it's not just down the drain at this point) My old mechanic retired so I'm scrambling here in Charlotte!

 

I'll keep you guys posted...thanks for the great advice.

Doug_Scott Senior Enthusiast

Doug_Scott

Posted
Posted

Its not the brand, it is the people working there, and even at that, it is the person with the wrench. Besides that, when the power steering quit, was the reason for the pump failure dealt with as well? Sometimes parts wear out naturally, and sometimes they wear out unnaturally. If every time they work on it, the noise stops for about 100 miles, what common item or procedure is being done every time? May sound stupid, but, what ever they do every time is in the area of the problem, they are just not getting the cause, they are getting the symptom.

 

If before the pump was replaced, it did not squeal, then go no further than in the immediate area of the pump. Depending on where the steering pump came from, it may or may not have had the pulley installed by manufacturer. Either way, you need to make sure the pulley is correctly aligned, is correctly installed (not crooked or bent), make sure it is the same size as well. If the pump came as just the pump and reservoir, shop would have had to move mounting brackets over, are they installed correctly? This would likely show up as making the pump out of line with rest of pulleys.

 

Does the steering work as it should? Could there be an issue with steering box making the pump create high pressure? That also may have been the cause of the initial pump failure, and is why I asked if they found the cause of failure in the first place. I do not know if the 01 GMC had rack and pinion then or not. But either way, the steering gear can cause the pump to vary the pressure applied. Run the steering wheel to the stops and listen, you will hear power steering pump load up.

Artey72 Enthusiast

Artey72

Posted
Posted

Have seen this before,the problem is most likely the power steering pump pully depth.its either too deep on the shaft or not deep enough. The misalignment causes wear on the edge of the belt which in turn causes the squeal. Belt replacement is a short term fix and will soon start squealing again.

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