Thread: power steering pump knocking sound

hey everyone sorry I've been posting so many I need help threads this winter has been beating me down haha. anyway I've noticed I've had this knocking noise every since those super cold temps we had its not terrible but does seem to be getting a bit worse when I looked first it looked like the power steering pulley had visible play while the engines running but removing the belt and wiggling by hand I couldn't get it to budge. also power steering works great no whining noises and personally my car is too easy to steer so I assume maybe the power steering pulley warped can I just change that instead of the whole pump I've seen people use a puller can this be done without removing the lines?


also researched and seen it could be the harmonic balancer? if so I seen rock auto has a 5% overdrive and a 10% under drive dayco powerband brand both less than $200 would these be worth getting if my problem was the balancer what are the pros to them exactly or should I just stick to stock? I have some rock auto store credit so the extra money isn't a problem if its worth it.

thanks for any info also how urgent is the problem i daily drive long distances could it leave me stranded?

bumping this thread since im still trying to figure out the exact problem maybe this can give further diagnosis I was driving to work today and noticed a faint tin can rattle sound when I was barely on the throttle but if I was on it medium or heavy amount it wouldn't make the noise also seemed to make the rattle when turning the wheel in park but not completely confirmed on that second claim. could this all be the PS pump if so what's a good brand to get I currently have $60 in rock auto credit and can get about %50 off at advance auto from cashback and coupons. its the time to buy lol

If it's not whining and car is easy to steer than its the pump. I say. The power steering pulley probably did not warp. Don't know how that would ever happen. The shaft holding the pulley is probably on its last leg. It sounds like you need a new pump which comes with new shaft. You can remove the pump and pulley from the car by removing the 2 bolts that mount everything to the block. The 2 bolts are behind the pulley, but there is a hole in the pulley itself that allows you to get to the bolts. You can feel for the hole with your fingers as you spin it. You will need to pull the pulley off the old pump shaft using a GM power steering pulley puller. You can buy or rent one. Without the special puller you can damage the pulley itself trying to get it off.

As far as the pump, buy ACDelco. Do not buy Cardone.

Before any of this... You will need to un-clip the lines from the pump by going in through the wheel well. Fluid will spill out so be prepared.

Not sure about the harmonic balancer.

okay cool I was thinking that shaft to just didn't know if they went bad and I've had the power steering pump off for a few water pumps lol never disconnected the lines but thanks for letting me know to unclip them before I would've done it after I removed the 2 bolts and if im doing the pump ill probably just get a new pulley too they seem cheap enough and I assume it will be a pain to get that old one off the pump. also how much fluid will I need I think I still have about half a bottle of the prestone like 16oz size I think.

yea its weird its a faint knock that literally sounds like someone knocking on a wooden door just much quieter and coming from the belt system and ive been driving it for a bit now with no actual issues to happen (linked to it at least lol). thinking ill start the car with no belts and that will confirm if its the crank pulley. I have a Milwaukee 1400lbs torque wrench coming in too so that will be fun to use it on. also the rattle ended up being the heat shield near the flex joint belle tire knocked it loose when they changed my front tires... smh so I just removed it. im still debating if the pump is bad but currently have to rewire the fuel pump as its melting connectors left and right