Squealing in serpentine drive

[timothy.byrnes.3]

I have a 98 Ram 1500 with a 5.2 318CID. It's developed a squeal that started as a small squeak and has progressed to a constant squealing.

I've replaced the belt and idle pulley assembly but the noise has become worse. I removed the belt and ran the engine briefly and no noise, so it's in the accessories.

I put some Kroil on the pulleys and the noise went away for a little while. However, it's come back with a vengeance. It's so bad now, that the engine is will die unless you give it gas to overcome the drag on the engine.

I think the squeal is in the ac compressor, so my question is how do you go about changing the bearings and/or clutch on it?

THANKS

Tim

 

[rowdyram]

It us usually a weak tensioner or a failed balancer. Finding the source of a squeak on these can be a nightmare.
If you suspect it to be in the a/c pulley bearing it would go away with the a/c clutch engaged... Does it?

Also check for pilling in the grooves from previous belt. Inspect each grove of the belt. 1 groove worn different can give an indication of pulley misalignment. Glazing indicates weak tension. Pointed grooves on a newer belt indicates belt "hop" from a pulley or tensioner out of center

 

[timothy.byrnes.3]

The noise doesn't go away when I engage the the a/c clutch. The old belt didn't look bad when I replaced it either.

Thanks for helping...any other ideas?

 

[mda8569]

My belt squeal was the WP. Take off belt and wiggle the fan.

 

[preachp]

Hi All,
I had a squeal in my truck too. Then one day my wife said stop flooring it and it won't squeal like that anymore.

Things that make you go hmmmmm........

preachp

 

[preachp]

Hi Timothy,

Seriously you need to take the belt off and test each accessory until you find the one that is making noise and dragging. If it is exerting that much drag you should easily be able to hear or feel the drag the bad bearing is creating.
preachp

 

[timothy.byrnes.3]

Thanks! I did remove the belt and checked all the accessories and pulleys, but the only one that was slower was the power steering pump. No funny noises or grinding, just mot spinning as fast as the rest.

I changed the water pump a few years back and there is no play in the fan.

Heat is a good idea. I will run it for a while and use an IR thermometer to check the temps of the accessories. I'll report back my findings.

 

[timothy.byrnes.3]

Ran it for a while and even took it out and ran it up to nearly 5K for a while. Temps on the pulleys were similar. The power steering pump was 20 deg higher, but only 135. The squealing is down to a little chirp chirp chirp under load.

It ran decent and had plenty of power. I'll try it later today after its cooled and see if it starts and doesn't die right way. I may just have to live with the chirps until something finally fails. Good thing I have AAA.

Thanks again and if anyone has more suggestions, please post them!