Power Steering Belt Job

Only question I have is whether aftermarket power steering
belts are all that inferior to OEM belts. Anyone?

Otherwise, a little report follows, for comments and/or the
archives.

We had some extreme cold (for where I live, out West) for a
couple weeks, whence I noticed that my car's engine was
making a light but quite noticeable squeaky-squealy sound
under all operating conditions. It was not too loud, but it
was definitely different from the engine area's usual
sounds. It seemed to be coming from the power steering belt.
I checked when it was changed last, and it appears neither I
nor any shop has touched it since before 2000, over 70k
miles ago.

Today I changed the PS belt with minimal trouble. One key
tip that I think has been noted here before, but I will note
again, since it was not in my Chilton's manual: The pump
housing has a 1/2-inch square receptacle on the top where
one may fit one's 1/2-inch drive breaker bar and pry to get
the belt tension and then tighten the pivot bolt.

The old belt was indeed /very/ cracked.

The engine sounds now seem to be back to normal. I haven't
road tested the car yet.

I used a "Duralast" belt for $7 from Autozone. A packet of
"belt dressing" cost me another $1 or so. I never used belt
dressing before, but I recollected people suggesting it here
in the past, so I thought I'd try it.

 

Just for reference, unlike the majority of substances, rubber and
rubber-like compounds expand when cold and actually shrink when warmed
up. I would guess that is why you first noticed the belt slipping
when the car was cold.


Elliot Richmond
Itinerant astronomy teacher

 

Just for reference, unlike the majority of substances, rubber and
rubber-like compounds expand when cold and actually shrink when warmed
up. I would guess that is why you first noticed the belt slipping
when the car was cold.


Elliot Richmond
Itinerant astronomy teacher

 

some, most definitely. others, like bando, are oem or better.

ugh. it's a fudge for slipping belts. i wouldn't touch it.

 

some, most definitely. others, like bando, are oem or better.

ugh. it's a fudge for slipping belts. i wouldn't touch it.

 

I've had whipping and early failures from standard Gates belts, but the
"green stripe" versions seem better. Better than OEM? I dunno.... In any
event, if a visual inspection of the belt at idle and with the throttle
gradually opened shows whipping of more than the amount of deflection the
belt has when stopped you really don't want that belt. I've found increasing
tension won't make a belt stop whipping.

I've started using belt dressing regularly on new belts, but I can't say how
much it has helped - if at all.

Mike

 

I've had whipping and early failures from standard Gates belts, but the
"green stripe" versions seem better. Better than OEM? I dunno.... In any
event, if a visual inspection of the belt at idle and with the throttle
gradually opened shows whipping of more than the amount of deflection the
belt has when stopped you really don't want that belt. I've found increasing
tension won't make a belt stop whipping.

I've started using belt dressing regularly on new belts, but I can't say how
much it has helped - if at all.

Mike

 

Okay. Thanks for the tip.

I took my Honda on the highway for a couple hours total
today. At first startup the new belt was a little squeaky,
but it made no initial squeal (as in loose belt), and is
certainly quieter than the old belt. I thought maybe it was
the belt dressing, breaking in, etc. After driving for a
couple hours, the car sounds back to normal.

'Course, I don't have much by way of splash protectors on
the bottom of the car anymore, and with the snowy weather
where I am, and slightly crazy driving due to a dearth of
snow plows, I think some crud may have jumped up in there
and been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

Okie-doke. Somehow it is hard to imagine too many problems
from a poorly designed or even installed PS belt. I would be
more concerned about the alternator belt and will go OEM
when it's due next.

Found a site today advising replacement about every 3-4
years or 36k-48k miles. They're cheap enough that this
sounds reasonable. Those interested should see
http://autos.yahoo.com/maintain/repairqa/engine/ques040_2.html

 

Okay. Thanks for the tip.

I took my Honda on the highway for a couple hours total
today. At first startup the new belt was a little squeaky,
but it made no initial squeal (as in loose belt), and is
certainly quieter than the old belt. I thought maybe it was
the belt dressing, breaking in, etc. After driving for a
couple hours, the car sounds back to normal.

'Course, I don't have much by way of splash protectors on
the bottom of the car anymore, and with the snowy weather
where I am, and slightly crazy driving due to a dearth of
snow plows, I think some crud may have jumped up in there
and been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

Okie-doke. Somehow it is hard to imagine too many problems
from a poorly designed or even installed PS belt. I would be
more concerned about the alternator belt and will go OEM
when it's due next.

Found a site today advising replacement about every 3-4
years or 36k-48k miles. They're cheap enough that this
sounds reasonable. Those interested should see
http://autos.yahoo.com/maintain/repairqa/engine/ques040_2.html

 

correction

rubber based compounds shrink like everything but water when very cold

ref

handbook of chemistry and physics

 

correction

rubber based compounds shrink like everything but water when very cold

ref

handbook of chemistry and physics

 

I am not sure what you mean by very cold. If a polymer, such as
rubber, is in its elastic range, then it behaves as I described. The
belts in cars are well within their elastic range. They must be to
function properly.

On the other hand, if a polymer is cooled to a very low temperature
(which depends on the polymer) then it becomes brittle and glass-like.
In this temperature range, it would behave as you describe. But for
rubber, the temperature range for this kind of behavior would be far
below any normal operating temperature under the hood of a car. This
behavior can be demonstrated by cooling a rubber ball in liquid
nitrogen. It will become very brittle.and shatter like a piece of
glass when struck with a hammer.


Elliot Richmond
Itinerant astronomy teacher

 

I am not sure what you mean by very cold. If a polymer, such as
rubber, is in its elastic range, then it behaves as I described. The
belts in cars are well within their elastic range. They must be to
function properly.

On the other hand, if a polymer is cooled to a very low temperature
(which depends on the polymer) then it becomes brittle and glass-like.
In this temperature range, it would behave as you describe. But for
rubber, the temperature range for this kind of behavior would be far
below any normal operating temperature under the hood of a car. This
behavior can be demonstrated by cooling a rubber ball in liquid
nitrogen. It will become very brittle.and shatter like a piece of
glass when struck with a hammer.


Elliot Richmond
Itinerant astronomy teacher