OK guys I need some help. I just read the thread about the power steering ? hydroboost? problem and I share some symptoms with one noticeable difference. There is a grinding gnashing noise under the hood like an accesory is about to freeze up. When I turn the A/C on the noise is audible from the cab. This is audible at idle. at 1500 to 2500 rpm the noise dissappears. So I thought it is the A/C unit but tonight coming home from work the brake pedal is a little softer and when I turn the wheel the grinding becomes audible.
Really all the noise, brake, and steering thing is only noticeable at and just above idle, crusing speed nothing seems to be affected, if this helps at all. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated

Have you already check the power steering fluild? Sounds to me like the power steering pump getting ready to go. No expert by any means but I check the pump by jacking the front end up then turning the wheel and see if the grinding sound goes away. By getting the front end up you take the strain off the pump.

look at the crank pulley and harmonic balance for wear also. I've seen both of them disentergrate.

I was thinking the Vaccumm Pump might be the problem or the Tensior pulley

If you can (please do this safely!!!!!) put a finger or a long rod on each accesory one at a time, you will feel the bad one vibrating. BE CAREFUL!!!!!!

Check your idler pulley ASAP!!!! :eek:

Carey

thanks guys for suggesting all of the relatively inexpensive stuff. I would not have known to check the power steering fluid, this is related to the hydroboost system somehow? Idler pulley is good, so I narrowed it down to either my entire A/C compressor or just the clutch itself. Not really what i wanted to blow my money on but my wife and daughter need the creature comforts. Well as always speed and power take the backseat again. Maybe after I buy my new set of snowtires in the fall I'll get my exhaust system on.

yeah you can pretty much assume the powersterring fluid is relative to the hydroboost.. as one look under your hood would quickly show that the PS pump is the pump for the Powersteering and the power brakes...

mine just went out 2 nights ago.. no evidence leading to it.. just bam no power steering no power brakes.. atleast its an inexpensive part.. new pump w/o resivoir... $31

-brian

Just changed the tensioner pulley tonight on the '96. My dad had noticed the alt wouldn't charge unless he made more than 2000 rpm and he said it ran 10-15*F hotter at all times.

His tensioner was only two years old but it was sprung and coming apart. lucky for us it was in the auto parts computer and it was just a warranty swap.