Hi, I've been having trouble getting rid of a squealing belt noise that happens under heavy acceleration. I've got a '72 Skylark 350-4 that's stock but runs good. The air compresser and smog pump have been removed so the only two belts are the power steering and alternator. The only time I get a squealing noise is WOT, which I don't normally do but it bugs me to have the noise. The belts are adjusted properly and I've even tried some anti belt squealing spray which didn't help much. Could my power steering pump be going out or something? The belts are new. Thanks, Brad
I had a similar situation with my AC belt and I had to tighten it some more and it went away. Since you only have two belts, you could remove the PS belt and take the car for a spin at WOT and see if the noise is gone. If so, then you know it is coming from the PS belt/pump. If the noise is still present it must be the alternator/belt. Try tightening it and taking it for a spin. The tension spec for Alternator is 80 lbs and 90 lbs for the Power Steering pump. I've never tensioned mine to spec. Just tightened them until they were noise free.
You could try that or a old trick I have done and works most of the time. Which is use a 320 grit sandpaper on the V sides to give the belt a fresh grip so to speak. Your belts sound like they are glazed/slick, when you take them off they may look glossy on the sides, thats glazed. Also wipe off pulleys with a blue shop town or a rag with brake cleaner sprayed on the towl.Josh
X3 on the glazed belts, If they've ben on there for a while, might as just replace them. They don't cost much
The belts are new so I think I'll do the 320 sandpaper suggestion and try and go tighter and see if that does the trick. if it doesn't I'll remove the fan belt like Jim suggested then go from there. One more question I see the you guys your names under your car photo, I can't seem the do that in my profile page, any suggestions on how to do that? Thanks Guys!
Slide the mouse over your username (next to inbox), and click "personal details" in the drop down menu. Then type something in the custom title box.
Back in the day, used to use bar soap on squealing belts. If they are new as you say, they may need more tension, they will stretch some.
Not yet, today I installed my windshield wiper motor and washer pump which all went well and everything worked. I'll do the belts next week. it's supposed to rain here for the next few days so I'll be driving slow. I'm thinking Thursday or Friday evening...
Make sure your alt. is in line with the pulleys on the motor. You may have shim the alt. Any misalignment can cause the belts to squeal. Also as mentioned above, any glazing will make them squeal. I know some people remove the alt. pulley and have it blasted. Once it is glazed, it is hard to get it completely clean with sandpaper.
Had a belt squeal whenever the engine would hit its power band. Id say anything over 4800-5000. at the time I had billet WP and Crank pulleys and a chrome PS pulley. First thing I did was replace all the belts. helped but didnt eliminate the issue. Next thing was to take 80 grit and rough up all the groves while the engine was running( kind of nerve racking) again , helped but not fixed. Next replaced the crank pulley with the stock steel unit. that all but fixed it. Whats left I've narrowed down to the chrome PS. I'll just live with that. Usually the tires are making more noise when I get into that upper RPM range and ya cant hear the belt.
Thanks Briz for the suggestions. I got side tracked by having to replace the starter. After a little looking it looks like one of the slots in the p/s bracket is bottomed out and won't tighten any farther so I can't get the correct tension. I'm going to get a dremell and enlarge the slot a little and see what happens.
Wow Mart I never thought about that! I went to the auto parts store and bought what they said would fit. Maybe I'll take the belt off and take it with me and get one a little smaller. Nobody will ever mistake me for Einstein!
I missed your post Richie, after I make sure I have the correct size p/s belt I'll check the alt. when I detailed the engine bay I also removed all a/c components along with the compressor and also smog pump. The alt. still has the double goove pulley. There's a good chance something not lined up. Maybe without the a/c compressor the alt. needs to be shimed like you said? Looks like I got a little detective work to do..
Just wanted to jump the on this post. Not sure if someone mentioned the pulley groove depth yet. Make sure the belt is not bottoming out in the grooves. If it is, tightening the belts won't help
