Power steering squeak

I have a 97 4runner with 260 thousand miles and recently I have been hearing a high pitched squeak turning the wheel left and right at speeds around 25 and lower. I replaced the power steering rack along with the upper ball joints, cv axle and also flushed the power steering fluid. It gets worse at low speeds around 10 mph and steering is stiff. Anything helps?

 

Does the squeak happen when the truck is not moving and you turn steering wheel side to side?

 

Yes.

 

Make sure you used the correct power steering fluid and it's at the proper level. Since this is a new issue since you worked on your truck, it may be the steering rack. Have someone or yourself near the front of truck when you move steering wheel and see if you can locate noise.

 

Could the possible culprit be the steering pump?

 

I though of that but you didn't have the noise before you did the work, and power steering pump was not replaced. It would be a coincidence but it's possible.

 

Or belt?

Every time I have my belts off or look at them funny, I swear they squeek like crazy.

 

It’s the belts. I have the same problem when turning my wheels all the way to left or right.

 

This is a year old but i'm replying because I did the timing belt and accessory belts on my 97 and now I have a squeak at max right and left.
Can you explain "its the belts" please?
Thanks

 

A slightly loose belt will squeak, or squeal, when they get loaded up, like when they're trying to drive the steering past it's stops. A new belt will stretch a bit after a very short use time. When you put a new belt on, you tension it according to the book, as a "new" or "unused" belt, but then, you should run the engine for 10-20 minutes, then tension it again. Again, according to used belt part of the FSM. Yes, they consider just a few minutes use, a "used" belt. Many people just do the "new" belt tensioning, then forget about it.

Does that help?
Pat☺

 

Yes it does. Thank you.
Installed new belts...tightened to spec (ish) and having run them for a while, need to re check.

I appreciate it

 

Yep, loosen them off, then reset them, this time, to the "used" belt setting the book specifies.

Glad I could help out a little, though.
Pat☺