Power Steering Pump - Removal and Installation

[Seneca_Tiger]

I am about to replace the power steering pump in my 2000 Silverado w/ the 5.3L V8. I have read through the procedure and have some questions. The Haynes manual shows a special tool to remove the pulley from the pump, which has to be done before the pump is taken off. I have a GM Power Steering Pump Pulley Puller but it doesn't look like it will fit. Has anyone out there done this, and if so what did you use (brand name if at all possible) and where did you get it? I was considering taking off the alternator and just removing the whole bracket and then taking off the pulley (because of the limited clearance) once I got it out. Is this possible?

EDIT - Figured it out. The tool from Advance Auto Parts (Loaner) is actually better than the shorter one because it gets the end of the shaft that you need to put the wrench on out beyond the cooling fan. The shorter one I got from O'Reilly's didn't work, so it's going back to the store. Getting the new pulley on is a challenge - had to use a strap wrench (bolt kept backing out instead of pushing the pulley on) and I would advise anyone doing this to figure out what size the bold that comes with the pump is and get a couple extras from a hardware store - they tend to get bent, and I broke one of the washers in half.

[j cAT]

when driving the pulley on pump shaft should be .020 movement when correctly pushed on. need harder bolts to drive pulley on, also emery cloth on pump shaft and pulley bore............

[mytime]

Sorry for bringing this old post back to the top, but I am about to do the same thing and found this thread. Should there be some play in the existing pulley? I can push it in and out and there is noticeable movement. I am doing this because I had a loud squeal in the engine and thought it was the water pump. I have finished replacing that but have not put everything back together yet. I happened to notice the play in the power steering pulley and have been having intermittent times when the wheel is very hard to turn mostly at slower speeds.

Only other question is that I heard that the high pressure line is very difficult to remove. Any advice for removal?

Thanks in advance.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by mytime

Sorry for bringing this old post back to the top, but I am about to do the same thing and found this thread. Should there be some play in the existing pulley? I can push it in and out and there is noticeable movement. I am doing this because I had a loud squeal in the engine and thought it was the water pump. I have finished replacing that but have not put everything back together yet. I happened to notice the play in the power steering pulley and have been having intermittent times when the wheel is very hard to turn mostly at slower speeds.

Only other question is that I heard that the high pressure line is very difficult to remove. Any advice for removal?

Thanks in advance.

if at slow speeds the steering effort varies this is usually the pump.....could be belt slip also...I have seen the pump failure do as you described...this is when the P/S is run with a low fluid level in most cases..