Installing Power Steering Pump & Pulley - VP 8.1

[AdamIPS]

I'm planning to replace my power steering pump in the coming days on my Volvo Penta 8.1Gi-h. I think I have narrowed down my severe belt dusting issue to the pump as it begins to squeal loudly when RPMs rise to 1500 or greater. It could be my eyes, but it seems to vibrate at the same time which I think is what's causing the dusting. My entire bilge area just to the side of the pump is covered in belt dust. I'm on my second belt in a year and everything else seems to check out okay.

So far, my plans are to remove the pump and take it to Napa/O'reilly's to find a cross referenced replacement. If anyone knows what the replacement is that would help as well! After switching out the valve, it should be simple to reassemble. In the past, I have always pressed the pulley back on using the rented tool from O'reilly and just bottomed it out. Is this how the pulley is installed on the VP? I'm worried about belt alignment and want to make sure the pulley is reinstalled correctly.

Tips and hints are appreciated!

 

[cptbill]

That's the way it works same as on a car, I would always do mine (on the last boat) the same way. Just be sure to take the mounting bracket with you there are small differences in the angle at witch the pump mounts and take the tool with you when you put it on the boat so you can make any small alignment adjustments. The other problem you will end up with depending on where you boat is that if it is the kind of pump that has the metal reservoir around the pump you might have a problem with pre mature rusting out of the reservoir

 

[Scott Danforth]

its a saginaw power steering pump.

the case is specific to your installation (VP 8.1 only) and you will not find that at a FLAPS (Friendly Local Auto Parts Store)

the pump itself is a metric GM truck pump ($11 rebuild kit and $45 for a new pump)


however if the pulley is rusty, it will dust a belt
if the pump is not square and the belts are not aligned, it will dust a belt
if the belt tension is not checked and maintained, it will dust a belt.

if its squeaking, most likely your belt tension is wrong and your belt is loose. belt tension is part of your annual maintenance check

prior to spending any money, look...... are the pulleys rusty, if so, fix that. then, with big straight edge, check belt alignment. angular tolerance is less than 1/2 of a degree and axial miss-alignment is about 0.020" max. basically if the pulley looks crooked, its too much out of tolerance. if the pulleys are not in-line, its out of tolerance.