Tightening V Belts
 

Hi Everyone,

I have an 85 z28 and I finally got around to putting my new power steering pump on. I bought an AC Delco one off of Rock Auto and bought new hoses and all the good stuff. I pulled the pulley off of the old pump and put it on the new pump. I checked the belt to see if it needed to be replaced and it looked fine. So I put the new pump on, and wrapped the belt around it and pulled the pump up as hard as I can while one of my buddies tightened the bolts for the pump. Now the belt slips only when I turn the wheel while stationary on pavement. I know the belt has a little to much give, so I was wondering if there is some trick to getting the right tension on v belts?

I was thinking of moving the pump up by 1/8 inch incriments with the belt not attached and then rolling the belt around the power steering pump pully until the belt fell in the groove. Is that the proper way?

Thanks for your time in advanced. This is my first vehicle that didn't have a serpentine belt.

TLDR: How do you tighten the v belt for a power steering pump properly?

Re: Tightening V Belts
 

Hmm, I wouldn't roll the belt on. You might have to CAREFULLY use a pry bar to get the pump farther out. But I'm not completely sure if you're only supposed to do that on the alt.
Alex

Re: Tightening V Belts
 

I tried using a crow bar to pry the power steering pump, and all I ended up doing is denting the pump. I know I can't use the pump as my fulcrum, but I could not find any holes or notches that would work on the pump's bracket. The alternators bracket has plenty of holes to use. I'm about to go out and work on the car in 15 mins, we willl see what happens.

Re: Tightening V Belts
 

Using a prybar will bend the tank...select the proper tool from this link to adjust the belt tension.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools...e=snapon-store

Re: Tightening V Belts
 

there should be a square nut welded to the bracket for the pump, you put a wrench on that nut and pull out with the pump mount bolts loose to put tension on the belt, them while holding tension, tighten a mounting bolt so it doesnt move.

Do not try to force the belt over the pully, it will damage the belt.

Re: Tightening V Belts
 

Thank you for pointing that square nut out. I'll go try that today.

Thanks to everyone for your help!

Re: Tightening V Belts
 

Yes, the alt you can just put a pry bar on the housing, for the powersteering pump you put a prybar on the bracket. Remember, there's one pivot bolt and TWO bolts to lock it in place. I put my prybar somewhere on the bracket, not on the square nut, but nearby. The square nut is a good idea though, good easy to follow instructions :)
Give that a shot, and pry it over until it crys uncle. If you overtighten you'll have a short lived pump though.

PS - don't turn the wheels when stationary. That's hard on the pump anyway.