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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: 73c10Shorty on August 10, 2011, 04:35:14 PM

Title: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: 73c10Shorty on August 10, 2011, 04:35:14 PM
Hey guys, so my power steering pulley is slipping and I think it may be because I'm missing a belt. The power steering pump has a double pulley but there is only one belt on it going from the crank to the power steering pump to the AC. It looks like there is another pulley groove (not sure of the proper name) that lines up with the power steering pulley. Should a separate belt go there?

***Forgot to mention that I have a '73 Chevy pickup with a 350.
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: 1979C20 on August 10, 2011, 05:33:42 PM
You CAN put another belt there and it might help, because youll have more surface area contacting from the belt to the pulley instead of just an outer edge. Go to your local hardware store and ask for a "power steering belt with no a/c" and that will go only from the crank to the power steering. Loosen the adjusters on the alternator, power steering and the ac. Remove the alternator belt from the crank. Make sure the ac, ps, crank belt is on the third groove of the crank, closest to the engine on the back pulley of the power steering, closest to the engine, then to the ac pulley.  Then install the new power steering belt on the middle groove of the crank, and to the front pulley of the power steering. Then, install the alt pulley back on the front pulley of the crank, and it should be going to the water pump as well. Tighten the alt pulley first, then the power steering for the new short belt, then the ac for the old belt. Thats how mine was before I removed the ac compressor.
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: 73c10Shorty on August 10, 2011, 06:36:41 PM
Thanks, I actually have a no AC power steering belt and I tried exactly what you said but it seemed just a bit too short. I'll give it another shot and see if I can convince the belt that it fits. Thanks!
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: 1979C20 on August 10, 2011, 07:17:29 PM
Make sure you loosen all 3 adjuster bolt on the ps pump until theyre almost hand loose. That should give you enough room to get that belt on. Mine was a VERY tight fit.
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: 73c10Shorty on August 11, 2011, 03:25:00 PM
That worked! Thanks for the tips!!
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: 1979C20 on August 11, 2011, 04:55:15 PM
No problem! Glad I could help.
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: jaredts on August 12, 2011, 05:42:35 AM
Not sure if I understood right, but if you don't have working ac I would ditch the belt that goes to the compressor.  Use a short belt to the ps pump.  If you fix your ac you do need both belts.
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: 1979C20 on August 12, 2011, 04:19:45 PM
I dont remember him saying it didnt work. He said he had a belt for a no AC system, I dont know if thats what you thought?
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: Irish_Alley on August 12, 2011, 04:25:16 PM
sound like it was just lose or glazed
Title: Re: power steering belt(s)???
Post by: jaredts on August 13, 2011, 09:16:24 AM
My fault, I misread his second post.