mk3 power steering belts

[chrismorby]

whats the easyest way to tighten this up? had a new one put on at the main stealers a while ago and is now making horrid noises untill warm?

[Khare]

Loosen the centre bolt a tad, stick a breaker bar or something to level round behind it, then gently tighten the centre bolt again. That's how I do it.

[rubjonny]

no dont do that, do it properly. there are 3 bolts to loosen, a 13mm bolt thru a tothed wheel thing on driver side, a 13mm on passenger side thru a slotted hole, and a larger bolt 15mm iirc which is the main pivot bolt. put a spanner on the toothed wheel, and spin it to adjust the tension. 5mm deflection is what you're aiming for.

can see the big bolt and the bolt in the slotted hole here:

[Len]

TBH in my experience tightening them only lasts a few months.
So as you are getting under the car to tighten it you may as well replace it!
Under a fiver from ECP!

Job done properly!

Oh and I do mine the same as Khare! 
Done it 3 times now! ( in 7 years)

[AudiA8Quattro]

You bodge it merchants 

[Bellend]

no dont do that, do it properly. there are 3 bolts to loosen, a 13mm bolt thru a tothed wheel thing on driver side, a 13mm on passenger side thru a slotted hole, and a larger bolt 15mm iirc which is the main pivot bolt. put a spanner on the toothed wheel, and spin it to adjust the tension. 5mm deflection is what you're aiming for.

can see the big bolt and the bolt in the slotted hole here:

I think it might be 17mm mate IIRC.

and yeah you want to be undoing all three, not just the center one people.

Also are you sure it's the belt and not a pulley that has failed as the tension has increased a bit?

[rubjonny]

nah I'm pretty sure its a 15mm, or maybe 16bmm. it sticks in my mind as being one of the few bolts that aint std size?

oh and you 2 bodge merchants are why all the mk3s ive seen have damaged teeth on the adjuster wheel. ffs its only 3 bolts to do the job properly 

[chrismorby]

Bellend, U heard mine, apart from the cat being f**ked the powersteering makes a horrid sound. hmm may be new pulley then as the belt was replaced at vw 8 months ago at the most?

[rubjonny]

new belts do stretch a bit, best to keep rechecking the tension for a couple months or so while it settles in

[Bellend]

Bellend, U heard mine, apart from the cat being f**ked the powersteering makes a horrid sound. hmm may be new pulley then as the belt was replaced at vw 8 months ago at the most?

I just heard the exhaust noise.