Changing a power steering belt is straightforward and can right many points with sloppy steering or squealing sounds. Autos manufactured earlier than 1990 usually should not have “serpentine” type belts; as an alternative, they’ve single belts for every accent. The typical yard mechanic will spend a couple of half-hour changing the facility-steering belt.
Power Steering Belt Replace Instructions
Unbolt the power steering pump from the higher mount level, and loosen the lower mount bolt, however don’t take away it. This may trigger the pump’s pulley and belt to lose rigidity because the pump pivots on the lower bolt.
Pry the belt off the pulley. Watch out to not minimize or break the belt. It might be essential to take away one other pulley on the motor to take away the power-steering belt. Type will fluctuate, however autos with separate belts for particular person equipment normally can have a V-shaped pulley design; some V-fashion pulleys come aside into two halves.
Replace the belt by inserting the belt’s beveled edge into the pulley groove. After the belt is in place, use the screwdriver to drag the facility-steering pump away from the mount. This may give the belt the correct stress. As soon as a great quantity of stress is achieved, change and tighten the higher bolt, then tighten the lower bolt. The belt ought to have about 1-inch of “play” on all sides, when rigidity is measured from the middle, between the pulleys. Replace some other pulleys and their belts.
Spray a liberal quantity of “belt dressing” onto the brand new power steering belt and permit to dry. Examine and substitute misplaced power-steering fluid. Crank the car and take a look at the restore by transferring the steering wheel and inspecting the belt on the pump.
[taken from ehow.com]