'95 240SX SE - Bad Power Steering pump or something else???

[ned4spd8874]

Well, now I have the belts replaced and the alternator replaced but I still have a nasty squeal at around 3000rpm and up. It sounds like it's comming from the Power Sterring pump area. There is also a sound of ball bearings rattling around that is constant.

I have checked and filled the fluid, but it's still there. Is there a way to test it before replacing it? Could it be the Water Pump? Oh, and how hard will it be? I've never replaced a Power Steering pump before...it doesn't look too hard....just has mess potential!

I finally get this car paid off and own it clear and free and all these issues are popping up! Arghhh!!!!
Modified by ned4spd8874 at 4:55 PM 5/23/2006

[180fan]

How much slack do you have in the belt? If there's too much slack in the belt, it'll squeal. If there's too little tension in the belt, again it'll squeal.

[ned4spd8874]

No slack. I made sure it was all good.

[ned4spd8874]

I have also taken the belt off and manually spun both the pully's on the power steering pump and the fan pully that's connected to the water pump and both spun pretty freely and did not rattle or give me any impression that they were bad.

[180fan]

There needs to be some deflection in the belt (some slack) otherwise it's too tight and will cause the squeal. Loosen it up a little so there's a few milimeters of deflection and see if the squeal is gone.

[ned4spd8874]

No difference.

Could the squeal and rattling sound be comming from the same thing, or could I have two separate issues?

[180fan]

is this a new belt? have you tried spraying some belt dressing on the pulley's ribs?

[ned4spd8874]

It is a new belt. But it was squealing before I changed the belts too.

[180fan]

it's only at the ps belt?

[ned4spd8874]

yeah, well, it sounds like it's comming from there. that's where the rattling noise if comming from too. But the problem is, I can't pinpoint it for sure. It's either the PS, water pump or AC I guess.

[ned4spd8874]

I think I'm going to take it into the shop. I'm going to have my girlfriend help me by reving the car up while I poke around under the hood once more to see if I can pinpoint the cause...otherwise, to the shop I go!