Power steering belt

[R Moses]

I have installed the Wildhorses Delux Quick Ratio steering System. I measured for the belt, but I’m having a hard time finding one that fits. It measured 56 inches at the bottom of the pulley grooves. Local auto parts store could only get a 56 In and a 60 in. The 56 was too short and the 60 was too long. So I’m not sure to try to find a 57 or a 58 in. My alternator has a double groove pulley. Has anyone on here installed this system? Which belt do I need to get? Thank you for any help.

 

[jamesroney]

I have installed the Wildhorses Delux Quick Ratio steering System. I measured for the belt, but I’m having a hard time finding one that fits. It measured 56 inches at the bottom of the pulley grooves. Local auto parts store could only get a 56 In and a 60 in. The 56 was too short and the 60 was too long. So I’m not sure to try to find a 57 or a 58 in. My alternator has a double groove pulley. Has anyone on here installed this system? Which belt do I need to get? Thank you for any help.

So you bought the wild horses p/n 1960 Deluxe Quick ratio steering system? It comes with a Saginaw high performance pump, located in the factory PS pump location. I am dumfounded as to how you could need a 57 inch belt.

Can you post a picture of your belt arrangement? I don't see any pulleys in the kit, so I am wondering what crank and water pump pulleys you selected???

The alternator / water pump / crankshaft belt should be 7405 the same as stock 74-77 Bronco and
The power steering / water pump / crankshaft belt should be 7480 close to a 74-77 Bronco. Both of them are under 48 inches as I recall.

So I'm wondering how you are getting to 57.

 

[Oldtimer]

If the belt runs around water pump / power steering /crankshaft / alternator (in 2nd groove) would that get it close to 57 inches?

 

[R Moses]

That picture is it . I will order the 57 in belt. Thank you. The local advance auto parts said they could only get a 56 or 60 in, nothing in between..

 

[R Moses]

The one that is 48 inches must not go around the alternator.

 

[jamesroney]

If the belt runs around water pump / power steering /crankshaft / alternator (in 2nd groove) would that get it close to 57 inches?

View attachment 890236

No, that would get it closer to useless.
People make that error because they don’t understand the minimum belt wrap requirement for a v-belt. You can see that the belt wrap on the ps pump 150 degrees, and the alternator wrap is 100 degrees, but the Crank wrap is less than 60 degrees.

When you hear that bronco power steering belt squealing and slipping on the crank sheave that will be why.

 

[Oldtimer]

I agree with jamesroney.
I would not run a single belt around all 4 pulleys.
My stock 68 had a 2 groove alternator pulley, but as I recall the 2nd groove was to route a belt to the smog pump.
When I added power steering, I dumped the smog pump, and put a single groove pulley on the alternator.

 

[R Moses]

Mine came factory with power steering and the alternator has the 2 groove pulley. I am the second owner, the first owner, an aircraft engineer, changed to the shorter belt and no longer routed it around the alternator. James Rodney’s post sheds light on why he did that. That belt is too short now and my thought was to use the factory routing.

 

[R Moses]

Sorry small print and I did not see the autocorrect on Jamesroney.

 

[jamesroney]

Sorry small print and I did not see the autocorrect on Jamesroney.

FYI, if you use the ampersand character prior to my username, "@" then it will allow you to select my username from a list. This helps to prevent typos, and it also notifies me of your response.

@Oldtimer is correct. The factory routing never included all 4 pulleys. The double alternator pulley on an Early Bronco is only to drive the thermactor pump on the 68+. The factory MPC and all aftermarket listings will show the belts I referenced above. (since I got the Gates numbers from RockAuto.)

Use the factory routing as seen in the picture in post #3. Those are actually two short belts. You can leave the double sheave on the alternator if you want. It doesn't hurt or help.

Gotta go...

 

[Broncobowsher]

Every V-belt setup I know of is either 2 or 3 drive or driven pulleys. The only time I have seen 4 is a tensioner and/or idler (guide) pulley. Factory Ford A/C compressors can be a 4 pulley setup, but only the crank and A/C are loaded, the tensioner since the compressor can't swing to tighten. And maybe an idler since the belt tends to flap around a lot from the harmonic loads of that 2-cylinder compressor and an extra pulley to stabilize the belt on the long span.

If you are running a high amp alternator and want to help prevent start up belt squeal, run an extra short belt to the alternator. Just crank and alternator only. You get more belt wrap around the alternator and it might grip enough to not squeal. Let the water pump belt run the power steering.

 

[R Moses]

Thank you for the info @jamesroney . I will get the belt that goes over 3 and not 4 pulley’s. I have learned something today! Thank you again!

 

[R Moses]

thank you @jamesroney, @Broncobowsher and @Oldtimer, Got the Gates 6850, it fit. The factory was 48-1/4in. The 6850 is 50 in.

 

[1970 Palmer]

Keep in mind that V-belts are offered in different widths. A wider belt rides up higher in the pulley groove and changes the circumference. You need to figure out the correct length "and" the correct width.

the photo in post #3 is correct and using two shorter belts with the extra wrap is the best routing.

 

[gladkin]

This thread was VERY helpful as I was stuck on finding the right belts to use. FYI I used Gates belts 7480 and 7395 as I have a March Performance 2 groove crankshaft pulley which is 5.5in OD, 6in 2 groove fan pulley, and a standard alternator pulley. Part #'s at Napa are 257480 and 257395 for the v belts and my bronco runs perfectly smooth after this work. The 7405 belt was an inch too long for the alternator to water pump to crankshaft pulley. Thank you everyone for all of your great input!!!