Here's an picture of how the V6 power steering bracket cracks

 

I remember when mine cracked that same way, it was a real bitch to find another one. I have an extra one if you are looking for one.

 

Thank You Destro Camaro , I sent you a message

 

Bump

 

Had this happen once. You need the support bracket for the ps pump. I fixed this temporarily by having my bracket welded and getting a longer belt. The issue here is that the belt has too much tension and it wants to pull the ps bracket towards the center thus cracking the soft aluminum. But the real fix is getting the bracket that attaches the ps pump to the block.

 

Mine has a bracket that runs from the back of the pump to the exhaust manifold . That bracket was loose on the back of the pump when it broke .

 

Yeah it bolts to the manifold and block. I had a hard time tracking one down.

 

I just checked , mine only bolts to the head just above the manifold , and to the back of the pump , with no other bolts into the block . In this picture of an old head , it's the bolt hole just behind where the manifold would bolt on , on the front cylinder . I now wonder if it's not the right bracket on mine (mine is just a flat steel bracket fitting between the head and the pump)

 

Oh yea , looking close at it my bracket is definitely a kludge that I've never noticed before , look at the stack of washers on the pump ! I'll bet those coming loose contributed to the front bracket cracking for sure .

 

May be able to update that bracket to the newer style. This is what GM used in the '92 cars:



RBob.

 

Thank You RBob for that picture ! It's nice to see the bracket that should be there . I never really looked all that close before , but when I saw the stack of washers on my pump last night I knew somewhere before I bought it someone must have done some "alternate engineering" to it for some unknown reason .

 

It appears that the bracket is weldable (Thank You maroe624 for mentioning that you welded your's ) , if one so desires .

I bought an intact one from a very nice & helpful fellow TGO member named lil_mike , and installed the good (unbroken) one he sent me in the car . But then I thought , maroe624 did it , so can someone with welding skills really do a solid job of putting it back together ? I happen to know someone who welds and asked if it was possible to weld it . These pictures show the finished result and I'm gonna keep it in my spare parts stash "just in case"

 

Yes, just-in-case your pal, The Old Woman, might need it! Lol

 

As long as the rear bracket is on your power steering pump and is tight , you should be fine , but if your ever does break look me up , I've got a friend who can fix them