The power steering belt has suddenly starting squealing, slipping and burning. It was inspected two weeks ago and found to be in good shape so this is a sudden failure. If it turns out to be the pump failing/seizing up then I am thinking about just not fixing it.

Has anyone driven their Max long term without power steering?

I just want to know if it would be totally intolerable or if you got used to it. When the shop calls me up in a few hours I will have to tell them whether to fix it or not.

I mainly want them to make sure that there isn't an issue with the crank pulley because of course that must be fixed asap.

I just dropped big bucks doing the MAF and IACV two weeks ago so the thought of replacing the pump is making me sick at the moment.

 

You could buy a perfectly good used pump at your local wrecking yard for a reasonable price.

Why on earth would you consider using the
Armstrong Method instead?

I was in the same situation with a different car a long time ago. The shop ordered one from a jy and installed it for a reasonable price.

 

Man up. I had a 1970 Chevy C10 long bed fleetside lowrider hot rod truck that I built over time when I was 16. I muscled that thing around with no power steering and a small diameter Grant steering wheel daily for two years. Probably some of the most fun I've had in a vehicle. Those were the days.

 

Realize though, that those “manual” steering systems of the past were built around ratios and with geometry that made them usable.

A power steering system is designed as and to operated as a hydraulic system.

With a nonfunctioning power system, you’re also fighting non-pressurized/non-flowing hydraulic fluid.

Fix your power system.