944Time

I had my PS belt off and I noticed the rubber teeth on it had separated from each other.

Is this just cosmetic? It seems to me the outer part of the belt carries the load and the teeth just pull it along.


The replacement (Gates ps belt) would about $10 at Amazon. I'm no rockler-fellow -- don't want to throw away a good belt.

porscharu

Throw it away. What about those cracks seems cosmetic?

944Time

Well, the load is carried by the fabric on the very outside of the belt.

The rubber 'teeth' just couple the torque from the pulleys to the fabric. The teeth only have to be firmly attached to the fabric and not to each other.

There are no missing teeth, every tooth is attached to the fabric. There are just cracks between the teeth.

So...that's what I meant by cosmetic. Works fine, looks wonky.

Matt O.

I wouldn't suggest the criteria for replacing an automotive belt be when it's missing teeth. Granted, worse thing that will happen is you will be without power steering, however, allow the system to work as it should and don't let that happen. I'd get a new belt.

Holytin

Aha...

Just use an old sock then...

bonus12

944Time, I know what you mean but in trying to think of any downside, I imagine that the longitudinal movement (play) of the teeth is higher than normal in the even of, as you call it, torque coupling. That would relate to a slight delay in powered steering.

Does this matter? No. Will you notice a difference? Hmmm...no. Can you use it on a road trip if you don't have a spare? Yes.

Conclusion: The belt is totally fine but there's damage that's beyond cosmetic.

Holytin

Here is what will be happening to your PS system - a belt in this bad shape no longer runs smoothly with a negative bearing on your PS pump. Your pump will be ruined and you have not saved anything.

Don't try to save $$$ where it is important to invest some money to keep your car maintained well. A new pump is more expensive than $10.

mikey_audiogeek

Give it a flotation test. That will tell you whether to keep it or not.

Cheers, Mike

Tom M'Guinn

Hold a piece of copy paper by its two upper corners and pull it tight. Notice how you can pull pretty darn hard before ripping the paper? Now put a quarter inch tear along the top edge and try again. Notice how it pulls apart like butter?

Replace the belt.

Jason @ Paragon Products

It's $6.50 and no cracks

http://www.paragon-products.com/Belt...192.236.50.htm

bordin34

Is it a duck?

Matt O.

Strong.

bonus12

Seriously though, all those teeth could rip of at once. Try ripping one off gently.

mikey_audiogeek

If it's made of wood...

944Time

Ok, I did a bit of searching and it seems that Amazon also sells the power steering belt for $5.39 shipped
http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Elite-15376-V-Belt/dp/B000C36ADG

Rock Auto has it for $1.56! Exact same belt, but no free shipping.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...&partnum=15376


Once I get the replacement I will be able to check if the old one floats.