We have a problem where if I turn the steering all the way right or left (seems to be worse when backing up), we get a "screeching" noise! Turning it back just a tiny bit fixes it -- but still a rather annoying and embarrasing problem when you are trying to back into a specific place or anything.

The car does not appear to have to be moving for this to happen -- so it isn't an issue with tires rubbing against anything, for example.

Any thoughts? I'm not even sure where to start since it is hard to isolate the sound...

Thanks!

- John...

Guessing you have power steering. Sounds like the power steering belt slipping. Replace belt, either old or glazed.

Open up the hood and let the cat out... :D

I've always been told that when you lock your wheels like that it kind of strains the PS pump and so it could be the belt some. I'm just throwing that in there, not absolutely sure. Either way it's not a big deal I would think because you don't need to lock your wheels like that anyway.

Make sure you have enough PS fluid. That is a sure sign of being low.

Fluid level was fine when I last checked -- I'll check the belt though soon... Thanks.

- John...

I have the same exact problem in my 69 malibu. New belt and fluild level is fine.I have learned to live with it but people are always asking me what that is and I always reply,don't worry about it. Should I?

if fluid and belt is good could be power gear box going bad thats what my 69 camaro one did just before it crapped out!!! graemlins/angry.gif

I think you could be right. My steering has become terrible on the road. It is all over the place,even after a rebuilt front end and new 1 1/4 sway bar.

I have that same problem! It happened after I had the front suspension rebuilt and the person who rebuilt it said I would probably be needing a new steering box soon, he didn't say anything about the screeching, I think it kind of sounds like chickens. (I haven't yet replaced it.) My power steering fluid was fine and so was the belt. I guess I really do have to replace the steering box.

i had the same problem after i installed global west's front end, including a rebuilt steering box. i haven't got to fixing it yet because i had terminal engine problems. the first thing i'm going to do though is replace the pressure vavle, with the original one, in the back of my power steering pump. I put a high pressure one in when everything else was installed and thats the only thing i can think of it being other than the obvious slipping belt or low fluid level both of which were fine.

I guess I will purchasing a new p/s gear box. I went to Napa Auto Parts and they had two types,
w/ 3 3/4 - 4 1/4 Turns Lock to Lock and
w/ 2 1/2 - 3 Turns Lock to Lock, both cost $160.00. Has anybody used one of these and what it the difference between a Napa box and one of the quick ratio box for sale in catalogs?

if your old box isn't leaking i wouldn't waste your money on a new one yet. try my advice and buy the $10.00 pressure relief valve first. unless you have a fast ratio box 12.5 to 1, just get the standard relief vavle. if you have the 12.5 to 1 box get the high output valve.

the sound comes from your power steering pump.

One thing to think about is that even if you have a new belt, that doesn't mean that it is going to stop the slipping problem. After a belt has slipped for a while it doesn't just glaze-up the belt it also ruins the surface of the pulley. Often times it is time to replace not just the belt, but also the pulley in order to get the slipping to stop.

I have a new pully on it. I am shure my box is bad as well as my idler arms. I am not shure about the condition of my pump so I guess I will replace box and see if the screeching noise goes away.

I have a new AGR box and mine does the same thing (I think my old box did also).

I am pretty sure the noise is from the pump, but that is not to say the box isn't to blame.

It could be because the belt is glazed or incorrectly tensioned, or either pulley (engine or pump side) might be too slick. You might have gotten some power steering fluid on the belt also.

I think you will be wasting your money if you buy a new box unless you have other issues with it.

You know that you can adjust the box if it is just "loose" steering, right?

Yes I did tighten the box up a little bit already,and it made little difference. What is the easiest way to check if a P/S box is still good or needs to be replaced?

With GM, I've alway seen it be air in the power steering pump.

with the engine running turn the wheel back and forth a quarter turn each way. generally after a few minutes the fluid level will drop.

With some mopar its seems to be normal