The mystery of the power steering belt

[360beast]

My power steering belt is doing my head in, it is so tight it squeals constantly really loud until I have been driving for about 30 mins which is getting embarrassing.

I have slackened it off several times now. The adjuster doesn't move but the belt gets tight again over a few days until it starts squealing again.

I will be trying a new belt soon as I will be replacing my leaking waterpump o-ring at the same time. I have had a look on google and cant find anything.

[Stephen Edwin]

A possibility. The belt might be too narrow for [one of] the pulleys. Does the belt have a V profile and sit with the V faces against the V shape of the pulley[s] or is it [at times] sitting right down in the depths of the V cross section of the pulley[s] therefore not making proper contact with the V faces?

[bob12]

If it is the adjuster it 'sounds' to me as though the adjuster needs dis-assembling and freeing up so that it works properly (which from what you say it isn't at the moment). Not sure what car you are talking about, but it is should be to be the same as the one at the alternator unless someone has been changed it.

[360beast]

1997 940 B230FK

The belt is a genuine Volvo one but I don't know how old.

Here are some photos of the belt and adjuster.


Volvo 940 power steering by Luke Ryland - Flickr2BBcode LITE


Volvo 940 power steering by Luke Ryland - Flickr2BBcode LITE


Volvo 940 power steering by Luke Ryland - Flickr2BBcode LITE


Volvo 940 power steering by Luke Ryland - Flickr2BBcode LITE

The adjuster works so far as that once the mounting bolts are slackened I can see the adjuster winding the alternator in/out.

This one has me stumped as I can't understand how it is moving as once the securing bolts are tightened it shouldn't move and if it did move I would have thought it would go loose not tighten!

[jor]

I'm not sure if your set up is like this one, but should it be you will note that there are many arms and bolts involved in hanging the power steering apparatus from the alternator, even before you get to the adjuster. It's not even a simple task to even get the pulley directly lined up with the crank pulley - at least for me, as you can see there is a slight angle on the belt.

jor

[lnparry]

Hi 360,

I have had this problem on my '97 945 LPT.

I think the issue is that the power steering mounting bracket has worn resulting in the pump pulley not sitting squarely with the crank pulley. The clue is in your photos - the front part of your belt is sitting high on the pulley compared with the rear of the belt. This is because the belt is trying to twist as the crank / steering pump pulley is out of line - hence the squeal.

To test this hypothesis rub a piece of dry soap against each side of the belt (PLEASE BE CAREFULL WITH YOUR FINGERS). The squeal should go but will return very quickly. Silicone grease applied to the edges of the belt may keep things quiet for a little longer.

If I am correct the only real fix is a new mounting bracket. Not easy to find but I did get one from FRS in Swansea.

Think I put a post on here somewhere about this issue.

Good luck and happy new year.
LeeP

[Laird Scooby]

Slightly different way of looking at things Luke, the water pump "O" ring is leaking right? Spraying water out under pressure until the coolant level drops below the "O" ring? You obviously top up each day from the sound of things?

Water on a belt, even a tight one, will cause it to squeal. There may be some joy looking into the bracket idea as well (posted by Lee i think) and i would think you have a spare, might be worth swapping them when you do the "O" ring and just see what happens.

Alternatively, do one of those things, test it, if it's gone you know what cured it (and hence what caused it) and then do the other one.

[mjk164]

1. Sort the water leak out first 'cos as Dave says, it will cause noise.
2. Make sure the pulley alignment is correct and
3. if it is, the put on a new belt of the correct size and properly tension it.
That should do it. Keep away from any anti noise sprays and the like; the problem is either alignment, leaks onto the belt or an incorrect or worn belt (shiney sides). The white block engines have a spring loaded roller tensioner on the belt and, after years of use, the roller bearing in it gets worn and changes the alignment, and you will never get it to work silently until you renew it.

[lnparry]

Hi 360,

Found my old post:

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=217728

The new bracket fixed my squeal but worth checking other causes as suggested on here.

The soap test will reveal all but watch those fingers.

LeeP

[Laird Scooby]

Spray on belt dressing is safer than soap on your fingers!