Cant seem to get this belt off, its in bad shape, jus making this annoying sound, im at the junkyard now to see if i can pratice taking one off. But i dont kno what size the rear power steering bolt is that is sopposed to b loosened, or where, the diagram is confusing.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8c1ezfX4jo

Should give you everything you need.

 

Easy guide to power steering pump belt replacement:

1) Get a sharp knife
2) Cut belt and remove
3) Put new belt onto pully as far on as possible.
4) Use a ratchet, turn crank pully and walk the belt on.
5) Open Beer
6) Drink Beer

Your welcome.

 

I like !^^

 

I need help with step 5, is that on youtube?

 

More importantly, what's the part number? I went into a store and said I needed a beer for a Maxima and the guy looked at me like I was nuts!

 

How exactly did u get the belt to slide onto the pulley? I'm having trouble getting it bak on

 

Well I got it on using njmax's method. Now off to get sum beer lol!!

 

took you 22 minutes to get it on huh.lol ^^

 

Yup was really quick, I don't have a big enough jack to do it the normal way, but now that its on, the squealing didn't go away, so it wasn't the belt, mechanic says its the idler pulley bearings. And that the crankshaft is wobbling.

 

The idler pulley is a fairly cheap item. The crankshaft wobbling is the harmonic dampener separating, not the crankshaft itself.

 

Ok hopefully the new idler pulley stops the squealing, its becoming annoying!

 

Your crank is fine. The harmonic damper is wobbling because it is coming apart. The outer part is spinning slower than the inner and making the squeeling you hear. Its a common occurance lately, get the Dorman from advanced auto or somewhere.

 

Thanks man, because it seems as if the idle pulley is fine to me, if I spray the belt and pulley, its not the source of the noise, but if I spray between the powersteering and crank/harmonic balancer it goes away shortly but comes back. So I will check on that part and seee about getting it replaced

 

U r right! Today my harmonic balancer came off the crankshaft and shredded my new belt as I was installing my idle pulley. I slid it bak on. Now I've got to get another belt and that part.

 

Thanks. That was very helpful. On my 96, I don't see how I can get a wrench on the 14mm bolt described in the video above.

This was far easier!

 

i know this thread is a couple months old, but why in gods name did you replace the idle pulley when you already came to the conclusion it wasnt the problem?

 

Not to steal your thunder but I came up with a better method. Reading your post inspired me to give it a shot your way. I cut the belt off with kitchen scissors, slipped the new belt on the crank pulley completely and then halfway onto the power steering pulley. Every time I tried to rotate the pulley with a wrench or ratchet the belt fell off. I tried holding it with one hand and doing the ratchet with the other with no success. So what I did different was I put it halfway on the pulley as much as I could (bottom and left side), stared at it for a second to make sure it wasn't gonna fall off, and then cranked the engine for a second and it went right on the rest of the way.

So to recap: cut belt off, route around crank and halfway on ps pulley. Bump key. celebrate. Then reinstall other belt lol

 

I dont see why the normal way is so difficult. Same thing as the Alt/AC belt. Tensioner is a little different but you loosen the bolt and turn the tensioner screw clockwise to loosen? If you get under the car it is far easier IMO. I don't think "walking" it on is ideal lol, Just because it works doesn't mean it is the right way.

 

Walking it on is only good if you're absolutely sure that the tension was correct already.

I was able to get at all of the appropriate bolts by laying under the car, feet towards the trunk.

 

I would never walk a belt on. They make tensioners and they made the ps pump to swivel for a reason to do it the right way.