One step closer to a new car.

cavaliers60 · 08-18-2011, 10:47 PM

You read that right.... I'm one step closer to a new car.... Tonight, my power steering pulley decided it didn't want to be connected to the pump anymore.... It's been squeaking for a couple weeks now, and I could see it moving a bit back and forth.... So, I knew it was just a matter of time.... Thank goodness it happened when I was in town and just got done backing up, rather than going 65 down a highway or something.... I would have lost another belt....

Real basic question though... It's pretty easy to replace the pump myself, right? I was thinking it was....

So yes... Once this is done, I'm one step closer to a brand new Alero, mechanically. haha

alerored04 · 08-18-2011, 11:10 PM

Do you have air? If so, yes it is pretty simple. But without air tools or a bench vise to remove the pulley from the pump it is tough. This happened to me years ago. From what I remember it wasn't bad once I swapped the pulley. I cant remember if I had the option to get a new pulley and I was too cheap or what. So long story short, if you get one fully assembled super easy job. If you get one like me that needed a pulley and reservoir swapped over if you have air tools it is a mild pain in the ass. Without air tools good luck. You will also need a power steering pulley removal tool. Advance should have one to loan you.

cavaliers60 · 08-18-2011, 11:13 PM

Well I think the pulley already worked it's way off.... It's up against the motor mount.... So I know it's not secure on there anymore... I was hoping it was somewhat like the Water pump... that was an easy fix.... What requires an air tool? The bolts to take the pump off?

SIUlero · 08-19-2011, 12:00 AM

Is there anything wrong with the pump itself? If it's fine, just get a new pulley and the installer tool...have it on and running in 10 minutes.

Papa Rad17 · 08-19-2011, 01:50 AM

That woulda super sucked of you were coming to terre haute today and it happened at the track... That would have been terrible!

alerored04 · 08-19-2011, 09:11 AM

What happened to you is the shaft broke. You will need air or a vice to remove the shaft from the pulley.

cavaliers60 · 08-20-2011, 12:02 AM

ahh Gotcha. I know a few people who might have air tools. I'm just going to go ahead and replace the pump and all... I'm sick of this power steering thing... It's the third time this year it's given me problems...

Redog · 08-20-2011, 09:56 AM

Yeah I was looking in my Hanes manual about how to replace the PS pump becuase I thought I was going to have to do my 7x crank sensor a few weeks ago (which is under the pump)

The hoses are the issue, really. If you remove the cruise control box, you can get to the 2 bolts that hold the PS on the block thru the pulley holes. The 4 cyl, is a different story

cavaliers60 · 08-21-2011, 11:55 AM

I'm probably going to get a new pulley and pump with res. New seals and all. Just to make sure I FIX this thing once and for all... haha I'm going to go take a look at it a little later today. Should hopefully have it fixed on Tuesday.

alerored04 · 08-21-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redog

Yeah I was looking in my Hanes manual about how to replace the PS pump becuase I thought I was going to have to do my 7x crank sensor a few weeks ago (which is under the pump)

The hoses are the issue, really. If you remove the cruise control box, you can get to the 2 bolts that hold the PS on the block thru the pulley holes. The 4 cyl, is a different story

There should be 3 bolts to access through the pulley holes. Since you are getting a ready to swap PS pump it will be a cinch. Only other thing is the variable effort steering valve if you have it. Not all of them did, my GLS did and I would assume most of that model should. It's easy to do, you just need a very large deep well socket. If your parts place cant figure out if you have this or not post some pics of your old pump and we can help, its pretty obvious.

cavaliers60 · 08-21-2011, 06:05 PM

Will do. I'll be getting it out this week. Just not doing it today as I've been busy the past couple days with an audio installation at a church. I'm beat today, and very sore... haha

It should be pretty easy... I'm tossing out the old pump and pulley... Just going to replace it all, and be done with it. So most likely I'll assemble as much as I can before installing it, but I'm guessing I can't install the pulley until the pump is installed.

cavaliers60 · 08-21-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIUlero

Is there anything wrong with the pump itself? If it's fine, just get a new pulley and the installer tool...have it on and running in 10 minutes.

Judging by the loud pop that I heard, I'm betting that the pump seized or something... It didn't sound god. It was making a lot of squealing noises for the past couple weeks... So I'd feel better if it was just replaced altogether.

cavaliers60 · 08-22-2011, 05:03 PM

Just got done checking it out more... The pulley is no longer attatched to anything... Looks like it got sheered off somehow.... So I know I need a new pulley. I'm going to go ahead and replace the pump too, just to be safe.

So, part of the pulley is still on, I just need to take the whole thing off together.

cavaliers60 · 08-22-2011, 06:50 PM

Here's what I have going on... Video and photo of the pump...

http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t=MVI_1775.mp4

That red plug on the left side of the picture... It's attached to the pump, so I'm guessing that's what you were talking about that the GLS models have? What do I need to do with that?

SIUlero · 08-22-2011, 08:11 PM

Your pulley is in two pieces...that part in the middle that has the groove in it is actually part of the pulley and is pressed onto the shaft of the ps pump. When you get a new one you'll see what I mean. From what I see here, there is nothing wrong with your pump. But if you're having other problems, I won't tell you not to replace it.

cavaliers60 · 08-22-2011, 08:33 PM

With all the power steering problems I've been having, I'm replacing the pump as well... I'm not taking any chances.

Before all this happened, the pump would whine a little during sharp turns... For the last two weeks, there was a squeaking noise coming from the pulley/pump. I don't see how the pulley could just break apart like that without something else being wrong.... So I'm just playing it safe (especially since my wife is prego) and replacing the pump too... The thing's been in there since the car was built.

Gr1m · 08-22-2011, 08:35 PM

ur better off just replacing the entire pump assembly rather then screw around with the pulley. something could be wrong with the actual pump that cause that pulley to seize and crack like it did.

cavaliers60 · 08-22-2011, 10:09 PM

exactly. And with my wife being prego, I'm not taking that kind of risk... Got the pump off finally...

Here's what it looks like... I'm guessing it does have the variable effort steering. How the hell do you take this off? haha

Old vs. new.

cavaliers60 · 08-24-2011, 07:19 PM

Figured out that you can't really take that off. So I returned the pump I bought, and got the correct one. Autozone and Advanced Auto do not carry the power steering pump with the EVO. O'Reileys does carry them. They are $116.99 with an $80 core charge (at least that was here). So make sure you take the old pump in first so you don't pay that. After about 2 hours, I got the new pump in, and it's running great!

Only thing is the high pressure line. It's leaking a little bit right where it enters the pump. I think it's in just a tad crooked, so I'll fix it tomorrow morning.

SIUlero · 08-24-2011, 08:00 PM

You can't really get a threaded fitting a "tad crooked"...it's either straight or it's cross threaded, and it looks straight to me...just put some teflon tape around the threads and it should seal up nicely.