How to Remove the Power Steering Pulley From a 1999 GMC Yukon

The 1999 GMC Yukon came standard with a 255-horsepower, 5.7-liter V-8 engine. Power steering was also a standard feature on the 1999 Yukon, which used pressurized hydraulic fluid to help the driver turn the wheels with ease. The serpentine belt transfers power from the engines crankshaft to the power steering pump pulley, which in turn rotates the pumps internals, pressurizing the hydraulic fluid. When the pulley becomes glazed, cracked or warped, this can lead to a loss of power steering or even irreparable damage to the pump. Fortunately, you can replace the pulley without removing the power steering pump, using a special tool you can rent from most auto parts stores.

Instructions

Removal

1

Draw a diagram of the serpentine belts routing, using a pen and paper. Position a breaker bar in the square cutout in the serpentine belt tensioner assembly and rotate the assembly clockwise to relieve tension from the belt. Pull the belt off of all the pulleys. Allow the tensioner to slowly rotate counterclockwise until it reaches its resting position.

2

Inspect the belt for any defects, including fraying, glazing, missing chunks of rubber or brittleness. Minor cracks across the grooved side of the belt are a part of normal wear and tear and do not indicate a need for replacement. Replace the belt with a new one if any defects exist.

3

Rotate the nut on the power steering pump pulley puller counterclockwise on the pilot bolt until it reaches the head of the pilot bolt. Tighten the pilot bolt into the threaded part of the power steering pumps drive axle.

4

Guide the power steering pump pulley pullers pulling attachment onto the power steering pump pulleys hub there is a groove that the pulling attachment seats in. Rotate the nut clockwise down the pilot bolt until you can seat the other end of the pulling attachment into the groove on the end of the nut. Turn the nut counterclockwise until there is tension on the pulling attachment.

5

Hold the head of the pilot bolt with a box-end wrench and keep it still as you turn the nut counterclockwise with an open-end wrench. Continue turning the nut counterclockwise until the pulley pops free from the pumps drive axle.

6

Unscrew the pilot bolt from the power steering pumps drive shaft. Remove the pulley and the pulling attachment from the puller.

Installation

7

Guide the new pulley onto the pumps drive shaft, with its grooved hub facing out, and press the pulley onto the drive axle as far as you can by hand.

8

Turn the nut counterclockwise on the pilot bolt until it contacts the pilot bolts head, and slide the pressing attachment onto the pilot bolt.

9

Hand-thread the pilot bolt into the power steering pumps drive axle until it wont turn any further. Turn the nut counterclockwise on the pilot bolt by hand until the pressing attachment makes contact with the pulleys center hub.

10

Hold the pilot bolts head still with a box-end wrench and turn the nut clockwise with an open-end wrench to start pressing the pulley onto the drive axle. Continue pressing the pulley onto the drive axle until the end of its center hub is flush with the end of the drive axle.

11

Turn the nut counterclockwise to back it off of the pulleys hub, and remove the pilot bolt from the pumps drive axle.

12

Route the serpentine belt over all of the accessory pulleys except the tensioner, using your diagram as a guide. Rotate the tensioner counterclockwise with a breaker bar and align the belt with the tensioner pulley. Allow the tensioner pulley to slowly rotate toward the belt until it holds tension on the belt. Remove the breaker bar.