Squeaky belt solved

[blown motor]

Last year I had to replace the alternator so I replaced both belts at the same time. Since then I've had a squeaky belt and with them as tight as a bull's ass in fly time I still had a squeak on acceleration. So today I pulled the power steering belt, started it, revved it a few times and no squeak. So I put the old belt back on and again, no squeak. Happy for that, far less embarrassing when I pull away from a light. But why did the new belt squeak? It's a Napa and the old one is a Gates. Could it be a brand difference? Or could it be the height at which they sit in the pulley? The new one is, of course, slightly wider than the old one. You can see in the picture the old one sits deep in the PS pulley and about flush in the fan pulley. So the new one would sit a bit higher in each pulley. Was it too high in the fan pulley to grip properly? My imaginary mind is wrestling to understand the true cause. Please help.

[Mr Cuda]

 You're on the right track. The new belt sits just above the v pulley edge on the water pump.  When the sides of the belt wear, the belt will dip down in the pulley and the inner surface holds the v off the sides.
Sqeak or slip , you choose

Your power steering pulley looks like a pre 69 for a 3/8 belt so just wrong.  It is completely down in the V.
Saginaw,  so easy replacement.

[tparker]

Bare with me as I am just thinking this through and I don't know if any of this is true. Please enlighten me if I'm wrong. My guess is the squeal is due to belt slippage, and there may be different reasons for that. The angle of the belt might be different from the pulley grove which would have less contact and less friction which would make it easier to slip. A too fat belt would not seat into the groove and thus limiting contact and friction. Belt material could make a difference if it is smoother and allows for more slippage.

I've always cranked belts super tight, but there is a set tension recommendation which actually leaves a bit of slack in the belt. So my guess is if the belts are squealing it, over tightening it is probably just masking the problem.

Anyways, this all maybe BS, but it's how I think about it.

[blown motor]

You're on the right track. The new belt sits just above the v pulley edge on the water pump.  When the sides of the belt wear, the belt will dip down in the pulley and the inner surface holds the v off the sides.
Sqeak or slip , you choose

Your power steering pulley looks like a pre 69 for a 3/8 belt so just wrong.  It is completely down in the V.
Saginaw,  so easy replacement.

The picture is with the old belt back on again. I never thought to take a picture with the new belt before I removed it. So the new belt, being slightly wider, would actually fit better in the PS pump and even higher in the water pump pulley.

[Mr Cuda]

 Ok, so if that is the used belt, you have the wrong power steering pulley.
Belt squeal usually comes from the alternator belt,  not water pump or steering.
Hows that belt?


I also just noticed your crank and water pump pulleys are a/c ones. How is your alternator belt alignment?
Maybe time to swap those out with the correct ones, and p.s. pulley

[blown motor]

AC has been removed. Alternator belt was new last year and alignment is not perfect but it doesn't squeak either. Never has. When I removed the PS belt and ran the engine there was no squeak so it's definitely the PS belt. The PS pulley is the one that's been on the car since I bought it 11 years ago. There's never been a problem until I put new belts on.

[JonH]

Belt is slipping. Pulley or pulleys are likely glazed. Rough up the groove with some sandpaper or put a dab of rubbing compound in the groove and run the motor for a few minutes to remove the glaze.

[dodj]

Subject title says solved...... but I don't see the resolution in the thread?
What solved it Murray?

[Jay Bee]

Subject title says solved...... but I don't see the resolution in the thread?
What solved it Murray?

My thought as well. I'm going to assume. "So I put the old belt back on and again, no squeak."

[blown motor]

Subject title says solved...... but I don't see the resolution in the thread?
What solved it Murray?

My thought as well. I'm going to assume. "So I put the old belt back on and again, no squeak."

Yes. The only reason the belts got changed was because I had everything apart to replace the alternator. If the alternator hadn't pooped out this conversation wouldn't be happening. The old belt works fine. Perhaps a few thou narrower than when it was new but no cracks and not junk by any means. Everything works the way I want it to work and the way it has worked for the last 11 years. What's wrong with that? Sure, I could change the PS pulley to the "correct" one (if this one is really wrong) but what does it gain me? Nothing. Everything will work the same and I'll be out some money.

[jimynick]

"Everything will work the same and I'll be out some money." Och aye!!!Here's me thinking that Brown was an Irish name with what ye've told me and here it turns out to be Scottish! I'll get rid of those nasty, new belts fer ya laddie. There's a good lad! 

[blown motor]

"Everything will work the same and I'll be out some money." Och aye!!!Here's me thinking that Brown was an Irish name with what ye've told me and here it turns out to be Scottish! I'll get rid of those nasty, new belts fer ya laddie. There's a good lad! 

Aye, just taking a cue from me Scottish brethren. 

[blown motor]

I measured the outside width of the three pulleys. The crank pulley is 3/4", the water pump is 5/8" and the PS pump is 13/16". I guess I'll deal with that this winter. For now it's running good and I'll drive it until the salt comes out.

[MoparLeo]

There can be slight differences in the pulley width which can affect the depth.
Belts come in various widths and depths. Length is only one of the factors you need to know.
Angle, width and height are also factors in v-belts.