Bearing squeek from power steering pump?

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Jul 23, 2011

Suek

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Bearing squeek from power steering pump?

I changed my drive belts about 4 moths ago (timing, power steering, alternator). About a week later I started to hear a squealing noise occasionally, I wrote it off as just the new belts breaking in and it did seem to go away for a little while. It came back about 4 weeks ago much worse. When I turn the car on I hear a very high pitched, rather loud squealing for about 5 minutes and then it goes away. It doesn’t happen ever time and seems most prevalent when the car has been sitting for a long time (particularly in the hot sun). It sounds a lot like a bearing failing. I checked the belts for damage, dirt or excessive play and didn’t find any and recently added belt conditioner. I used a screwdriver as a stethoscope to ‘listen’ to some of the bearings. I can’t say I’m an expert in what to listen for and none of the times I checked was it making the noise but the power steering pump seemed ‘off’, kind of a grinding/humming, definitely louder then the alternator or anywhere else I checked. I’m thinking it might be the bearings on the power steering pump but I don’t get the noise when I’m turning, only when I turn the car on which makes me think the alternator is more likely but it sounded fine as far as I could tell with my limited experience. Is it plausible this could be a bearing on the power steering belt despite the fact it doesn’t seem to be related to turning or wheel position at all? Any other suggestions are welcome as well.