Anybody Please Help Asap, Xmas Eve No Parts!!!!!!

[bosljeff]

Okay, I know I could do a search, but in case I can't find an answer to my specific question I started a new thread, especially since parts stores are closed now and probably until Friday and I worry I may not have my daily driver to drive to work the next couple of days.


PROBLEM/SYPTOMS: I was driving home and suddenly I lost what seemed to be my power steering. It felt like when a car dies while moving and how it is suddenly hard to steer, but still can be steered with a little muscle.

WHAT I FOUND: Got home, popped the hood and found a belt torn in half over near all the drive pulleys on the driver's side of the motor.

WHAT I ASSUME: The busted belt is my power steering pump belt or something like that (pseudo-newbie here).

AM I OK?: Since people remove their power steering pumps and related parts for weight savings, am I ok with this belt busted? If this is the case, in theory I can drive "forever" with is busted, right? I just will have to muscle it at low speeds and will be okay at higher.

Or is it going to effect other systems?

Please help asap since this is my only car and I can't get parts until Friday.

Thanks ahead of time and Merry Xmas!

Boz

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by turboholic

...
only need to remove the 2 12mm bolts, don't have to touch the big one.

Well as long as you are picking on yourself can I pick on you too?

With few exceptions both SAE and Metric fasteners are referred by the diameter and not the tool size used in removing them.

Thus these would be an 8 x 1.25 where 8mm is the diameter and 1.25mm is the thread pitch per mm. You can get either a 12 or 13 mm socket size head. Or a 1/4" x 20 has a 1/4 inch shank with 20 threads per inch with a 7/16" socket or rarely 1/2".

If you send someone out to get a 12mm bolt they will come back with a 19mm or 21mm socket size. 'ems the rules, I didn't make that up and for sure not trying to be a pedant.

For you who may be be in the profession and like to collect facts, read on, others can skip.
.............
However, Lord Alexander Whitworth (UK) decided to design his own threads and bolt sizes which are identified by the socket size. He did a lot of research in fasteners and as a result _all_ well made fasteners will have his discovery that if the underside of the head is radiused rather than the easy way of a square cut it will add something like twice the strength to the bolt. You may find the square cut on a grade 2 or 3 bolt but never on a 5 and above. It was his research into fasteners that earned him Knighthood. Where do you find them today, many British motorcycles still use his fastener designs. If you have to work on British SU carbs they are all Witworth so don't loose the screws!!! Snap-On use to have them on their trucks when British cars were very popular in the '60s and '70s.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[bosljeff]

Hey thanks guys. You have been really helpful in my slow evolution away from newbie. I appreciate everything. I'll be fixing it tonight.

Take care,
Boz

 

[bosljeff]

Replaced all 3 belts and the harmonic doohickey is in great shape, the rubber isn't cracked or bulging out or anything.

So in 2 weeks a CV Joint/axle, 3 belts, busted dryer, and woke up to a broken water pipe in house. Hopefully all this shit is finally done and everything is working so far but the day is young.