Smaller steering pump pulley ok?
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Teching In
Joined: Jan 2017
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Smaller steering pump pulley ok? I am using a 5.5 in diameter steering pump pulley. I have an extra pulley that's never been used and it's 5.24 inches. Will that be OK to use on my LS3 engine? My pump may be bad so I might want to replace it with a slightly different one that allows for a cleaner and shorter hose route (and the pulley in the car now does not have the correct bore diameter like my extra pulley does). And if I can use it, will it require a shorter drive belt or can the tensioner be adjusted to handle it?
TECH Senior Member
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From: Central Cal.
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
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Smaller pulley = higher rpms on the pump. In theory, if you overspeed a power steering pump, it can cause aeration in the fluid which isn't good. This I think ends up being more an issue if you are using it for sustained high rpm like road course.
