Thread: Shredding belt

I'd be going with a sticking or loose bearing somewhere.

Something else to check on. My belt shredded two ribs off the side of it, like it had been sliced off. After checking all the bearings out, found it was the power steering pump about to let go. The power steering pump pulley had started to migrate its way toward the front of the car, thereby slicing the back edge of the serpentine belt off. The best way to check, apart from the way the belt is tracking on the pulley, is see if you can push and pull the pulley in and out from the power steering pump. If you can get any more than a couple of mm of movement, then the pump is on its way to failing (so I was told, mine had about 4-5mm play) and to fix it is more trouble that it's worth. The shaft of the pump apparently detaches from the back bearing or bush (can't remember which). Think it cost me about $250 for a newie, oh and a new serpentine belt.

Cheers
Goldey

Just guessing with the obvious things that I got caught on...

There are two lengths of belts. My 97 Disco needed a 1580 length belt. Most of the belts in the shops where 1595.

Also check your balancer pulley for wobble - is your balancer/crank pulley dead tight? (that's my "broken record" topic this month).

The Tensioner does need replacing from time to time. They do do a lot of work and they wear out. They aren't supposed to be fixable either, ie: you are supposed to replace them complete. When I got my Disco, some @*&! mechanic had put shims into it to try and get it run true - but this only hid the root cause.

Cheers

Hi guys
Goldey gets the money, I checked the steering pump and the pulley comes out about 8-10mm so this would be the problem.
Now how do I hold the steering pump pulley so I can undo the three nuts holding it on.
Have the belt on, or whats left of it, about five ribs and pulley still turns.
Will get a new belt to see if it makes a difference.
Has anyone else taken this off and how did you do it.

Regards Jukebox

Couple of suggestions for getting it undone:
- you could hold the pulley with a pair of those chain clamp locking pliers (like a pair of vice grips with a chain between the jaws. Only about $15 at Supercheap etc.
- try and put a ring spanner on the nut but have it in a direction that goes across the center of the pulley, rather than just straight outwards from the nut. That way the torque trying to turn the pulley is reduced. Give the end of the spanner a sharp smack with a dead blow or copper hammer.
- Or take the opportunity to pull the radiator out and get it rodded - and put a rattle gun on the nuts

Steve

It doesn't feel good to get this one right..sorry dude .

From memory, the pulley stayed on and I removed the whole pump, then wacked it in the vice to remove the pulley...... I think .

Cheers

Goldey

Hi guys
Don't worry goldey you saved me some money so thankyou as I was going to buy the tensioner first.
got the pulley off with the aid of a mate and a leather strap locking thing, come oil filter remover, Old as but hey did the job.
Next is to get the pump off as I have lost my 10mm socket.
Grab one tommorrow and a breaker bar so should be all go.

Regards Jukebox

Good one Goldie. I had the same problem,shred the belt 300k run, every thing looked ok new belt& tensioner.Set off on another long run ,first stop checked to make sure everything was normal-it wasn't- the belt was how you described it.Of course the steering pump looked ok, however some probing revealed the pulley was loose.When the belt let go it took out the air/con belt and damaged the bonnet insulation.Up to now I hadn't heard of any one else having this problem. So one to watch for.Regards Lochiehttp://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/smilies/smile.gif