A power steering pump can rattle especially if the pulley is loose and can also cause wear on the engine belt and cause it to break after only a few miles or so.
A failing power steering pump will feel like a steering wheel that gets hard to turn or you may hear whining noises when you move the steering wheel to turn.
A failing power steering pump will also cause loss of power steering, fluid leaks and and even sometimes leak fluid.
Replacing a power steering pump takes between 1 to 2 hours in most cases although if the power steering pump is harder to get to it can take 3 to 4 hours.
If your power steering pulley is bad then the belt will usually slip or may even shred or you may notice the pulley is warped or your vehicle's steering will not respond well or respond excessively.
If the power steering pulley binds for longer periods then you may have a burnt smell under the hood of the vehicle as the belt is either slipping or not spinning with the pulley.
A power steering pulley can also crack and break especially if it's plastic.
A power steering pulley should spin freely and allow the shaft of the power steering pump to spin freely when you rotate it.
If it's tight then the power steering pump could be bad and need replaced although a little tight when spinning the shaft is okay but not too tight.
The power steering pulley is held in place by friction and is pressed on the shaft.
The tight fit between the shaft of the pump and the hole of the pulley that goes on the shaft is what holds the power steering pump pulley in place and prevents it from coming off.
To press a power steering pulley back on you use a power steering pump pulley installer tool and you put the bolt into the shaft and put the pulley on the shaft and the tool over the shat part of the pulley and crank down slowly with a wrench or socket while you hold the large nut on the tool with another wrench.
The special tools that are needed for a power steering pump removal is a power steering pump removal tool and installer which is a combination tool that comes in a kit and can be purchased at automotive stores or online.
You'll also need a couple of wrenches or a wrench and a racket and socket to put the power steering pump pulley on.
You cannot hammer on a power steering pulley as the power steering pulley is a pressed fit pulley and requires a power steering pulley installer and removal tool which pushes the pulley onto the power steering pump shaft.
You insert the bolt and tighten into the shaft of the power steering pump and then use the tool with a wrench to push the pulley on as you turn the wrench.
Hammering on a power steering pump pulley will damage the pump and could warp the pulley as well.
You can buy a power steering pump pulley removal tool and installer tool for around $20.00 on eBay which is where I got mine.
The life expectancy of a power steering pump is around 100,000 miles and sometimes longer or around 10 years or more depending on how much you drive.
The symptoms of a failing power steering pump are.
A squealing sound when you start the car.
Groaning noises when you turn the steering wheel.
Steering wheel that is slow to respond.
Stiff steering wheel.
Low power steering fluid and leaking power steering fluid.
And grey power steering fluid.
If your power steering pulley is not spinning then the power steering pump has likely seized up and needs replaced.
The power steering pump pulley should spin with a slight drag when spun by hand and if it's really tight or it won't spin at all then you need a new power steering pump.
A power steering pump should turn freely and the shaft should free spin easily in the housing.
If the power steering pump pulley is hard to turn or the power steering pump shaft is hard to spin then it could be a sign that the power steering pump is going bad.
The pulley on the power steering pump should fit tightly on the shaft and not spin around on the shaft or be loose.
Power steering pump pulleys are pressed on and require a power steering pump pulley installer tool and removal tool.
Never try to pry or hammer on the power steering pump as it can damage the power steering pump.
Also never use a jaw type puller such as a gear puller on a power steering pump pulley as it can damage it.
But if replacing the power steering pump you should always use a new pulley so that it presses on tightly.
Without the friction of the drive belt and the engine NOT running, all driven pulleys should turn freely without noise when spinning by hand.
The P/S pump and water pump pulley will have some drag (resistance) but still turn freely with little resistance when turned relatively slowly.