Alt/ Power Steering belts.

[M1009 Fiend]

Ok so im about to change them, but my m1009 has 2 belts not the three that its suppose to have.

Should i put the three back on or go with two?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[lavarok]

Install 3 belts. Here are the gatorback part numbers.

• Driver side alt - 15585 ( 58 )
• Power steering - 15461 ( 45.5 )
• Passenger side alt - 15495 ( 49 )

 

[Mudstone]

be sure that you are still 24v... they may have pulled the belt and not the alternator when they switched it.

 

[M1009 Fiend]

I figured it out ive been driving with out my power steering belt.

When i put the new one on is there an damage is should look for?

 

[Warthog]

I figured it out ive been driving with out my power steering belt.

When i put the new one on is there an damage is should look for?

I bet that was some hard steering and MAJOR leg action to stop as the PS pump also runs the hydroboost brakes.

No harm done as the pump just sits there without the belt.

 

[jj]

The belt for the #1 alternator also wraps around the PS pump pulley, somewhat. He probably still had power steering and brakes, but a lot of load on the alternator and the power steering at the same time would slip the belt. Believe it when they say you'd KNOW if you didn't have a working power steering pump.

 

[M1009 Fiend]

Ya that makes alot of sense because my volt meter has always being on the low side.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[M1009 Fiend]

Ok so is the power steering belt suppose to be a ##@$# to put on?

Ive been working on it for 45 min just trying to get it on, loosen all the bolts that would get the pump to move and still wont go on im thinking of going to get a belt thats 46 rather than 45.5.

Any suggestions?

 

[CUCV85]

Ok so is the power steering belt suppose to be a ##@$# to put on?

Ive been working on it for 45 min just trying to get it on, loosen all the bolts that would get the pump to move and still wont go on im thinking of going to get a belt thats 46 rather than 45.5.

Any suggestions?

There's a way to do it with a strap, if you try a wrong method you will screw up the brackets.
The most inner belt is a backup for the power steering and braking assist.
I cut mine off it was loser than heck.
I should have tightened it up with the adjustment brackets!
I never wanted to try to put one back on.
I have run mine for 3 years no issues with just the outer 2 belts.
I actually have purchased it years back and it sits in the cab under the passengers seat!
Great spot for it right!!! Be careful, I would search on this subject of power steering belt/backup
and/or wait for someone to chime in on this tread. Good luck and I hope you haven't messed anything up.

 

[lavarok]

There is one PS bracket bolt you need to remove completely. Slip it over all the way to the inside, then work it out on the pulleys.

When re tightening the PS bracket, use a pry bar from underneath and have someone up top snug the bolts. The pry location from up top will not give you a good fit for the belt.

 

[doghead]

Did you miss the bolt underneath the pump?

 

[M1009 Fiend]

Where underneath? Like behind/bellow the pump, closer to the cab?

 

[doghead]

Yes, Lay under the truck and look up at the bottom of the pump. It is below the oil reservoir.


Bolt # 7 in the picture. Yup, TM

 

[M1009 Fiend]

Ok will do right now.

 

[M1009 Fiend]

Ya loosened that one, nojoy.

So, not sure what to call the bottom most pulley, but what ever that is it has a slight motion to it.
What would cause this?

And could i make it 75miles on just the two alt belts?

 

[doghead]

The lowest pulleys are mounted to the Harmonic balancer. If they wiggle, they could be loose, or the balancer could be loose, or coming apart. You had better look close and fix that, before driving it anymore.

 

[jj]

With the proper size belts as specified on this forum and in the TM's, i've found it necessary to remove ALL of the bolts holding the PS pump. I think there are four. With the pump completely free, i can thread the belt onto the pulleys, then push the pump into a position where the brackets get on the studs and the bolts can be started. A third hand would be helpful, but it is doable alone. When all of the bolts are started, pry on the pump to tension the belt, and start tightening the bolts. Hope this helps.

 

[4bogginchevys]

careful not to tighten the ps/alt belts more than the opposite belt to alt 2, premature water pump failure can result

 

[Seabee15]

how do you know when you have enough tension on the belts?

 

[scottladdy]

how do you know when you have enough tension on the belts?

Gates Krikit I v-belt tension gauge #91107. About $10 at RockAuto. Cheap enough to keep one in the glove box of each vehicle you own.

They also make one for ribbed v-belts. The Krikit II #91132 about $13.

The manual calls for 67 lbs. of tension on the belts after break in. I checked mine with my "calibrated thumb" and thought they were plenty tight. I checked with the Krikit and found that they were at least 25 lbs. under tension. Pretty much what Gates says they find most belts are when set with the "calibrated thumb" .

I wonder how many loose belts are the real culprit behind the lazy alternator