The power steering pump pulley is under constant load. You typically don’t see the wear building till it causes more problems like a bigger repair.
Belt Glazing Along the Pulley
The Glazing of the Belt on the Pulley. If you run your finger along the inner surface of the belt above you will feel a Glassy Surface. This Surface has been created by the belt slipping off the pulley. This is most often caused by a worn or wobbly pulley.
Lateral Play When Pushed by Hand
So let’s test the pulley for lateral play when pushed by hand when the engine is off. If you find any wobble, then the likely cause is a worn bearing inside the power steering pump. But don’t worry, you can replace it, and in the meantime, the extra wear on the belts and seals will need to be addressed as well.
Groove Wear on the Pulley Face
As mentioned before, sharp well defined edges are normal. Rounded or flattened out grooves, indicate that pulley has worn down, and can no longer hold the belt in proper position. For more on this, take a look at https://westernpowersteering.co.uk/steering-parts/pump/.
Scoring From Belt Misalignment
Misalignment to a power steering pump pulley can cause fine scratches or score marks. These marks will be running across the pulley face in the direction of the belt travel. It’s possible that the damage could have been caused by a bent pulley or worn shaft in the pump, and it would be wise to have the pump inspected as soon as possible.
Corrosion Pitting
Surface rust and pitting on a steel pulley will cause a noticeable vibration at low engine speed. The light surface rust that can form on a steel pulley can be wiped clean and is normally of no consequence. However deep pitting can cause an uneven contact surface which can cause problems with belt tracking.
Identifying these wear signs will allow for an inexpensive repair and prevent damage to your vehicle’s steering system.
