Power steering pully alignment
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 188
Likes: 1
From: Charleston, SC
Power steering pully alignment
I woke up, got in the car to work today, cranked up the truck and pop- there goes my 3 month old power steering/fan belt. 1979 f150 with 460 non ac. I got a new belt and after looking at it closer, the power steering pulley is almost, but not completely aligned with the other pulleys. The side closer to the fan is toward the engine 1/8 of an inch or so, just visible. The broken belt was heavily worn on the bumper side where it contacted the side of the pulley more. How is this re-aligned? I'll try and get some pictures.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 515
Likes: 8
It sounds like either the pulley itself it bent, or the pump shaft is bent/has play in it. I would take the belt off, spin the pulley by hand and watch the shaft. If the shaft moves around, you need a new power steering pump. If it doesn't, your pulley is bent and you'll need a new one of those. In either case, you will have to remove the pulley. You NEED the proper puller for this. If you go in to your auto parts place and ask for a power steering pump pulley puller, they'll know what you're talking about. It's usually free to rent too
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,656
Likes: 4
From: Northern and Southern Cal
Is the pump original or has it been replaced?
If it has been replaced then who ever did it may have driven the pulley on to far. It is a press fit.
If your pump is ok you can use the puller to slide the pulley to the correct position.
But as mentioned above you need a specific puller.
If it has been replaced then who ever did it may have driven the pulley on to far. It is a press fit.
If your pump is ok you can use the puller to slide the pulley to the correct position.
But as mentioned above you need a specific puller.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 188
Likes: 1
From: Charleston, SC
Not sure if it is original or not, I have not replaced it. the pulley does not wobble or doesnt appear bent, or the shaft, but it seems as though the bracket is not allowing the pump to align property. Could I put a washer or two on the left side (looking at the engine) of the bracket to push that side out enough to let the pulley align?
This is what my bracket looks like. I'm talking about washers under the 2 screws on the left?
This is what my bracket looks like. I'm talking about washers under the 2 screws on the left?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,656
Likes: 4
From: Northern and Southern Cal
Can't see your pics but if all is ok and it was me, I'd get the puller and back the pulley off till the belt lined up.
If you go to far, there are threads inside the shaft that you can put a bolt into with a nut and washer on it to press the pulley back on a bit. If you catch my drift.
If you go to far, there are threads inside the shaft that you can put a bolt into with a nut and washer on it to press the pulley back on a bit. If you catch my drift.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
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Can't see your pics but if all is ok and it was me, I'd get the puller and back the pulley off till the belt lined up.
If you go to far, there are threads inside the shaft that you can put a bolt into with a nut and washer on it to press the pulley back on a bit. If you catch my drift.
If you go to far, there are threads inside the shaft that you can put a bolt into with a nut and washer on it to press the pulley back on a bit. If you catch my drift.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,656
Likes: 4
From: Northern and Southern Cal
Seems odd the shaft would be bent. Sounds more like the pulley, they bend easy.
If it's the shaft then remove and replace.
If it's the pulley they are pretty easy to straighten if not to bad.
If it's the bracket, I would just straighten it or find a replacement.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 188
Likes: 1
From: Charleston, SC
Well I went through 4 fan belts in 3 days, and no matter what I could do i couldnt get them to line up. Took it to a mechanic friend and found not only was the bracket bent, but also one of the threads to the block was completely stripped out so he re-tapped it and shimmed accordingly after straightening out the bracket as much as possible. Almost perfect alignment now, as close as we're going to get. Been almost a week on the same belt so thats great. Good thing for Gates belts warranty, only bought 1 and got free exchanges for a new one when it would break from oriellys.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,595
Likes: 5
From: Pasadena, Ca
I have to go out and pull my pump today. My bracket looks fine, and if i shim out the right side, it seems like it may make it worse. I am going to take a look at shimming the pump in the bracket that hooks to the engine bracket, the one that slides on the engine bracket. Makes no sense why its off like this
